tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34833150370517688162024-03-14T02:45:37.692-07:00Valerie V EventingBlue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-31480130515890002082016-08-08T17:40:00.001-07:002016-08-08T17:40:28.890-07:00Many Move-Ups and Congratulations!!!With MDHT II behind us and August FHI within sight it seems like a good time to share some congratulations on the most recent BCE move-ups and accomplishments!! If you read the last blog, 'Worth the Wait', you know I was excitedly waiting for MDHT II to move Favian up to Prelim- I am so thrilled to say that it really was worth the wait and it couldn't have gone any better!!! We finished 4th in our division, within 1 rail of winning it. Unlike previous years, before the 1 and 2 stars were running along side the other divisions, this was NOT a move up course and Fave handled it extremely well! I wasn't pushing him for time but his stride is so huge it just swallows up the ground. I couldn't be happier with him after MDHT II and am looking forward to building on our success at FHI this weekend. Looking to the fall, I hope to get his first CIC 1* in at Plantation and then possibly a CCI 1* at Kentucky! There is so much to look forward to with this horse!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fave didn't seem to mind that his Prelim course shared numerous fences with the CIC 1*!</td></tr>
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Dewey Square also deserves lots of praise and attention after his successful introduction to eventing the same weekend with a strong finish in 2nd place! Dewey continues to impress me with his willingness to learn; first a race horse, then a year with the hunter/jumpers and now an eventer! He took it all in stride as a classy horse does! He definitely knew he was at an event and he puffed himself up and rose to the occasion for all 3 phases. Check out his SJ round below! Dewey is going to keep the momentum going at FHI this weekend as he tackles the novice!<br />
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Huge shout out to Mckenna O'Neill, who won her training division with Boomer and looks to make it 3 blues in a row with Boomer at FHI this weekend! Also, to Alex Peterson who conquered her SJ demons from the 1* this spring and put in her first clean SJ round at Prelim with Willie Wiggins! She finished her division in 2nd place within just a few time seconds on an awesome XC round to make it the icing on the cake!! Mckenna and Alex are both back off to college in just a few short weeks and we will miss then dearly until we are reunited this winter!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex and Willie Wiggins</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mckenna and Boomer</td></tr>
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Cary and Game On also had an awesome weekend as well, completing their second CIC 2* at MDHT II on a very challenging course! Cary also just wrapped up a successful weekend at Millbrook with Game On.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome ride through a challenging combination in the dressage arena!</td></tr>
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Allison and Fling moved up to novice at MDHT II and looked strong in all 3 phases but unfortunately Allison got her yellow and white squares mixed up on XC! She will be looking for redemption at FHI! And the last (but far from least!) congratulations is for Elyse, who has now caught the eventing bug, and had a super debute with her adorable horse, Poncho! Congratulations to all! I am so lucky to have such a talented and lovely group of horses and people to work with and we can't wait to see what Fair Hill has in store for us!<br />
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<br />Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-65149293571473490022016-07-14T16:47:00.002-07:002016-07-14T16:47:57.296-07:00Worth the Wait<div style="min-height: 100%; position: relative;">
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Recently, I had the realization that good things really are worth the wait.<br />So, why is the wait so hard to endure?!<br /><br />It took me months to find Favian; really, it took me three and half years<br />if you want to get technical. Let me assure you, I was looking hard,<br />leaving no stone unturned. I experienced numerous let downs and dead<br /> ends that left me thinking I might never find the right horse. Just when<br /> it felt like I was never going to get my prize pony, the stars and dollar<br />signs seemed to align and finally I found Favian!<br /><br /><br />From the moment I had Favian I just wanted to hurry up and do<br />everything I had been waiting for, for years! I want to shout out a<br />HUGE thank you to Jann Byyny who talked some sense into me very<br />early one morning during a lesson when she helped me remain<br />patient and assured me that the talent is there- but it takes time to<br /> a partnership develop. It's a partnership that is worth the wait to take<br />my time and make sure I develop right, with a strong foundation<br />and trust.<br /><br /><br />From the beginning Favian has been amazing, already exceeding many<br /> of my expectations! After successful outings going training at Virginia<br />and Waredaca I was on the fence about whether or not he was ready<br />to go Prelim at Surefire two weeks ago. Of course, I want to hurry up<br /> and have an FEI horse again, but I decided to wait until our last cross<br />county schooling the Wednesday before Surefire to make my decision<br /> about moving up or not.<br /><br /><br />Luckily, I woke up and realized how stupid I was being! Was I going<br /> to wait for something disastrous to happen to make my decision for<br />me?? We ran around the training that weekend and he was foot perfect!<br />PERFECT! The feeling of now knowing I have a horse ready to move<br /> up is so much more fulfilling than running around a XC course at a<br />higher level wondering what to expect at the next combination.<br />Debating between the direct route or the option as you gallop down to<br />it is never a good feeling!<br /><br /><br />I appreciated going back to Surefire and schooling the Prelim and<br /> knowing that I probably could have had a clean round. I hope that<br />when we move up at Loch Moy I find out it was worth the wait!!<br />Knock wood as I know you need luck just as much as anything else<br /> in this sport, however, I'm feeling excited and prepared, not just<br />lucky.</div>
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<tr><td class="Bu" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /><br /><br /><br />As I look forward to Loch Moy this weekend, I feel obligated to post<br /> a public service announcement. I want to take a moment to talk about <br />one thing that is NOT worth the wait- entering an event! Mary Coldren <br />helped inspire me to write about this. Do you know how Mary spent <br />her 4th of July holiday?? Trying to sort out roughly 500 entries for <br />MDHT II as fairly as possible. The Sunday before closing there were <br />125 entries total and only 2 days later there were now over 500 entries!! <br />That's just not believable! She had to go through the entries and figure<br /> out literally to the minute who entered when in order to make a fair <br />wait list. I assure you, this is not what she is getting paid to do! <br />Just like the rest of us eventers, it's not for the money :)<br /><br /><br />Just think about that the next time you wait until the last minute to <br />enter an event! I will admit I am guilty of this myself sometimes, <br />not sure what the future will hold for each horse, but imagine if just <br />one person from each barn does that! We all know Mary is amazing <br />at what she does but let's try to make an effort to let this start to be <br />the exception rather than the rule!<br /><br /><br />Thinking along the same lines, I feel strongly that each competitor<br /> should have to be involved with volunteering at a recognized <br />competition. I remember when I was first taking all of the classes<br /> to get my judge's license. The one thing I questioned early on- <br />why on earth does anyone want to organize an event?! <br />What a massive and often thankless undertaking! I don't think riders <br />are trying to be rude, I think they just don't really have a clue<br /> as to all of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. <br />Try volunteering- just once, just for half a day even! You would <br />be amazed at what you can learn. Scribe for a dressage judge<br /> or the show jumping judge, you will learn exponentially! <br />My hope is that competitions make this as pleasant an experience<br /> as possible. I've definitely seem some people wanting to help <br />and not organized or guided properly. It's a nightmare when they<br /> put a kid out at the SJ in gate- we need good volunteer coordinating<br /> decision that make it a positive experience for the volunteer as well!<br /><br /><br />Thank you ALL at the MDHT II ahead of time for a fantastic <br />weekend that was totally worth the wait ;)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-71084906347452666472016-05-24T17:09:00.000-07:002016-05-24T17:09:11.083-07:00Spring SummarySpring is quickly passing us by at Sudley Farm! Despite the incessant rain we are as busy as ever with lots of great news and updates to share- especially as we pack up for the big spring finale at Virginia this weekend! Before I start talking about all things Blue Clover Eventing though, I want to congratulate Michael Jung on his impressive win at Rolex. I was lucky enough to be at Rolex and watch him as he is well on his way to the eventing grand slam. Our sport is so demanding of both horse and rider and to feel good and perform well in all 3 phases is an incredible feat. To do so at the 4* level is the wildest dream of many. And then there is Michael Jung who does it consistently- three times consecutively, amongst numerous other wire-to-wire wins! What an incredible athlete, rider, trainer and horseman he is. May he be an inspiration to us all and a shining light for eventing during some tough times, especially of late.<br />
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Michael Jung's dedication and attention to detail are inspiring and I look forward to continuing to make that a priority in my own program. I am lucky to share Lorenzini as a sponsor with Michael. It's clear by Michael's success that his horses love their Lorenzini products, as do my horses. Favian has been making huge progress in developing a better connection in his Lorenzini snaffle. Kitty Smith-Garrity not only provides BCE with all things Lorenzini but also our lovely L'Apogee saddles. Favian feels fantastic and is quickly gaining strength and confidence in his Lorenzini and L'Apogee wear!<br />
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I am so thrilled to say that Favian and I are rapidly continuing to develop a partnership. We went to the Wednesday evening Loch Moy schooling CT last week where he scored a 27 in his dressage test. He also had some absolutely beautiful SJ rounds! Fave is so athletic and eager to please, and has such a big forward stride- it has been so fun getting used to him!<br />
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We have also cross county schooled at Fair Hill and Windurra where it is was more then obvious that cross county is his favorite phase! I'm hopeful that after a successful Training level debute at Virginia we will move up to Prelim at Waredaca in June- stay posted after Virginia for the final decision! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxa-TQ4_hCZJYtHDrFZVbyGfxBKHrYeGAm7vAV2HFiDZ-0XFYbqdw56T1qkUSCr4sPwHdRdTY2pDFCBagg2JLHJU4nGAUaPG0tzjBiX2lRdSnidrPGbhHz4uaOIzSTXXzDAri4m_vLIE/s1600/Fave+xc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxa-TQ4_hCZJYtHDrFZVbyGfxBKHrYeGAm7vAV2HFiDZ-0XFYbqdw56T1qkUSCr4sPwHdRdTY2pDFCBagg2JLHJU4nGAUaPG0tzjBiX2lRdSnidrPGbhHz4uaOIzSTXXzDAri4m_vLIE/s320/Fave+xc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schooling the FHI water complex for the first time.</td></tr>
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Favian is happily getting used to life out of the desert! He had never been turned out on grass or had the same kind of large turn out fields we are so lucky to have at SF. To help get Favian acclimated to life in Maryland he was given super-pony, Tatanka, as his new BFF and life coach!<br />
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I could talk about Favian all day long but there are many deserving and talented horses at Sudley Farm that deserve to share the spot light with him! Dewey continues to have a great attitude, trainablity and rideability- which are such important and frequently overlooked qualities. Dewey is doing a lot of cavaletti work to build strength and understand how to work through his back. He is also working on half halts (a very important tool when riding such a fast ex-racehorse!) and leg yielding to improve suppleness and learn to move away from the leg.<br />
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Lastly, with Virginia just a couple of days away I want to wish the best of luck to all of the BCE riders, especially Cary and Alex, who are riding in FEI divisions. Cary and his 7 yo super talented horse, Game On, are tackling their first 2* season! This horse is an incredible jumper and Cary continues to give him confidence. Alex and her fantastic horse, Willie Wiggins, are a dream come true partnership. Alex and Willie had a super season at Training last year, winning the PRO Scholarship and then moving up to Prelim. With my help last fall when Alex went off to college she was able to keep rolling this season, competing their first 1* at The Fork this spring and finishing just outside the top ten.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVtVrfxPBhH3rwSRD8_Fgl9wgNdWnOT_ld897FH3nCbq6wEPa4JEOXuj7sYwhVBF3cWZyZJe2wJOfMwwjuMhbzeo7quBtDf85NZjc-pij1bsopFilvqYoIWLk1oCO8GEUYFArNMRFAcU/s1600/Alex+and+WW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVtVrfxPBhH3rwSRD8_Fgl9wgNdWnOT_ld897FH3nCbq6wEPa4JEOXuj7sYwhVBF3cWZyZJe2wJOfMwwjuMhbzeo7quBtDf85NZjc-pij1bsopFilvqYoIWLk1oCO8GEUYFArNMRFAcU/s320/Alex+and+WW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex and Willie looking ready for this weekend!</td></tr>
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Handling all of the behind the scenes craziness at Virginia this weekend will be our recently promoted barn manager, Tyler Held. Tyler demonstrates uncompromising dedication and enthusiasm for the sport and BCE program, which made me want to reward all of her hard work and feel confident entrusting her with a greater set of responsibilities. She has revolutionized the level of efficiency in the barn and spends long hours taking care of our 16 horses, giving them each personalized attention and treating each one like her own horse. Tyler's positive attitude is contagious and inspires us all. Now more than just a barn manager, she basically handles all of the BCE operations and we look forward to her being a super star in her new roll!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLc4NL34um-8QuhjahkLdGx4UwTH9Et-HHB_KZdkGfI3_yCNtntfxejgCHCrwiSmrs1_zVYt5Np6bdYdnQV2TjL7eL6A0yod-PKVWKzLGo89Z-cv-ynPlbRzlseRcl-PwirH9JbIIC1OU/s1600/Tyler+and+Chip.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLc4NL34um-8QuhjahkLdGx4UwTH9Et-HHB_KZdkGfI3_yCNtntfxejgCHCrwiSmrs1_zVYt5Np6bdYdnQV2TjL7eL6A0yod-PKVWKzLGo89Z-cv-ynPlbRzlseRcl-PwirH9JbIIC1OU/s320/Tyler+and+Chip.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler and Chip showing off their ever improving dressage!</td></tr>
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We are looking for 2 additional working students to work with Tyler. Email of text me for more details.<br />
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Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-76580201017154363392016-05-15T16:12:00.001-07:002016-05-15T16:12:05.171-07:00Sudley Farm's XC Course is almost open!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFuxwj9gKOUXcMtpO8sGmGigMKOubalGNPxR3FU2KyuABzoXgAbPK8ZgBjXca7pYt4JByyszIbxLdACtwRxR_-2GWNk0oA_JqAyRra_x4wtqufErA8ziEtU8MX9G7i0DhA7yY0DDcCOQ/s1600/hay+field+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFuxwj9gKOUXcMtpO8sGmGigMKOubalGNPxR3FU2KyuABzoXgAbPK8ZgBjXca7pYt4JByyszIbxLdACtwRxR_-2GWNk0oA_JqAyRra_x4wtqufErA8ziEtU8MX9G7i0DhA7yY0DDcCOQ/s320/hay+field+1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hay is ready to be cut </span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">if it will ever stop raining)!</span></td></tr>
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If this pesky rain will ever go away our cross county course will be opened for schooling very soon after! For those of us lucky enough to know Sudley Farm it's common knowledge that our beautiful cross county course and galloping fields also doubles as our hay fields. This dual purpose functionality of much of our 130 acres at Sudley Farm is testament to the numerous partnerships that have flourished at Sudley Farm over the past several years. Sudley Farm and BCE are committed to supporting our event horses and their success at every level, and as every eventer knows, nutrition is an extremely important aspect of that success. I feel so lucky to work out of and manage Sudley Farm for it's wonderful owner, Elizabeth Bonner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLDoWsRz7JYXoIo3UV_PKiT4T6ZdPg8Yifpk3eh-Cnc0yuyrHzhXpz0teJRgKpNbxD_jgTa3lAosyZP_oIFUN8zSD75j8Xz4pLSaSy0y_Tvso7Iw8PPUXS5nbuXOqmIQiYyyO7CutDd4/s1600/SF+water+jump+summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLDoWsRz7JYXoIo3UV_PKiT4T6ZdPg8Yifpk3eh-Cnc0yuyrHzhXpz0teJRgKpNbxD_jgTa3lAosyZP_oIFUN8zSD75j8Xz4pLSaSy0y_Tvso7Iw8PPUXS5nbuXOqmIQiYyyO7CutDd4/s320/SF+water+jump+summer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The water complex is highly versatile and has something<br />for everyone with multiple drops and a large inviting bank!<br /><br /></td></tr>
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The Collinson Family Partnership manages and implements the paddock seeding and fertilizing as well as the transition from the original crop fields to a lovely alfalfa/grass mix for our hay. The Collinson's work directly with the Nutrient Management Plan Program through the University of Maryland Extension branch where they receive individualized recommendations on nutrient and fertilizing applications through soil testing. The successful results of this hard work and planning is evident in our happy healthy horses who enjoy this hay year round. <div>
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In addition to quality hay, our horses enjoy Cavalor Feed. It's important that our horses have energy, but not be crazy, and I want to thank Cavalor North America (locally distributed by Myers Grain) for perfecting this recipe and keeping our horses healthy and happy. We feed performix and pianissimo specifically, and they have done wonders for our ulcer prone horses and hard keepers. For more information don't hesitate to contact me and check out Cavalor's website which can be accessed here: <a href="http://www.cavalor.com/int/products/category/2/feed" target="_blank">http://www.cavalor.com/int/products/category/2/feed</a><br /><div>
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Anne Arundel County has long been in need of a world class cross county course for schooling purposes and it has been my pleasure to help provide this not only for my riders and clients but the local community in general. We have been lucky enough to employ the services of Morgan Roswell, an experienced internationally licensed course designer who has designed through advanced and internationally recognized levels. He is well known for his impressive work at Rocking Horse, New Jersey Horse Park and locally at Seneca Valley. Morgan is also brining back the event at Essex in time for the summer of 2017, so be sure to look for it on the Area II calendar next year! For more information on Morgan and all of his work and services his website can be accessed here: <a href="http://www.rowselldesign.com/" target="_blank">http://www.rowselldesign.com/</a>. Morgan not only designed our course from the beginning but he routinely comes back and moves the jumps around to create different courses so there is always something different! For more information and pictures of our course country course and schooling click here: <a href="http://www.blueclovereventing.com/Facility/Facility.html" target="_blank">http://www.blueclovereventing.com/Facility/Facility.html</a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoTeiOmjFqDAk_LBqXvxeAFUmEMYFrRXKcGyu7-6NXpj_wzwPBYtH41RWr6JWWg2fj63VYpCL6qX9q22-6foXyD1SpBRHCAhBrn5P0a7GYzM9Rxog8D9VkuOhyphenhyphenXW89UPJuMm5PCoHwTE/s1600/SF+ditch+and+cheveron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoTeiOmjFqDAk_LBqXvxeAFUmEMYFrRXKcGyu7-6NXpj_wzwPBYtH41RWr6JWWg2fj63VYpCL6qX9q22-6foXyD1SpBRHCAhBrn5P0a7GYzM9Rxog8D9VkuOhyphenhyphenXW89UPJuMm5PCoHwTE/s320/SF+ditch+and+cheveron.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our course currently boasts BN- T level jumps and combinations, and with Morgan's guidance <br />we plan on adding technical preliminary combinations later this summer! </td></tr>
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Out of respect to our farmers and footing (which is our hay!) we are diligent about protecting our footing on both the lower cross county fields and the gallop terrain. The Collinson's will be cutting hay as soon as it stops raining long enough to allow them to do so and our cross county course will be open soon after. To protect the footing and our hay the course is open by appointment only!! Please email me (val@blueclovereventing.com) or call me (410-353-3813) to schedule an appointment. The XC schooling registration and liability forms can be found on the link to my website.</div>
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Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-45189121269917655322016-05-01T15:04:00.002-07:002016-05-01T15:04:33.085-07:00BCE Welcomes West Coast All-Star, Favian!!I want to start this post by extending gratitude to all of the amazing people who helped make this possible- I couldn't be more excited to announce that I recently purchased Favian from Tamie Smith and Heather Morris (CA). Tamie and Heather have done an outstanding job of bringing this lovely horse along. Favian is an 8 yo big 16.2 black Oldenburg, well bred by Donnerhall Furioso Rubenstien. Favian has a dazzling record to date piloted by Tamie and then Heather as they brought him along at the lower levels. Favian has loved the spotlight from the beginning, winning the 2015 Nutrena AEC Novice Horse division with Tamie.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3Uz3hLlptAjzbJ02YZBQaSK3usEzKeG_DJrKfCZuK6OxOJSF415d6ms2yGYxkx4irzbvMctoahQCvycbmlGNMLMIFHMsV6qLba6Rnq6Sg9ZDOHjzYZ5iJpLW3lYZqECfF_BdnXoOFsQ/s1600/Favian+AEC+champ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3Uz3hLlptAjzbJ02YZBQaSK3usEzKeG_DJrKfCZuK6OxOJSF415d6ms2yGYxkx4irzbvMctoahQCvycbmlGNMLMIFHMsV6qLba6Rnq6Sg9ZDOHjzYZ5iJpLW3lYZqECfF_BdnXoOFsQ/s320/Favian+AEC+champ.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favian soaking up the attention of winning his novice AEC division!</td></tr>
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Of his nine starts he has finished inside the the top three all but once (with a 6th place at Copper Meadows in TH). His last start, with Heather, was his first trip around the green squares at Galway Downs in which he finished on his impressive dressage score of 28.9. Favian demonstrates all of qualities of a 4* superstar in the making!! I was lucky enough to hear about Favian and be first in line to try him, thanks to Liza Horan who went looking for me after a depressing winter with my search on the east coast turning up nothing viable. When Liza called me to tell me this horse could be the one I immediately vetted him and then hopped on a plane to try him for myself. I knew immediately I would be bringing this one home!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwNaJpNjzAkDpPvfTvxh6VIfFJfT9a1rNzxGbtl2IKH9URyf22yBtzkV6v1e_YHd5E_wo42cYVFlPxl5ifttH7KxvZg6Zy_t5lrRghh_s5FLfB6IWaTZ0YvlEDs2_atbn8ebu-QZNeLg/s1600/Favin+SJ+shot.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwNaJpNjzAkDpPvfTvxh6VIfFJfT9a1rNzxGbtl2IKH9URyf22yBtzkV6v1e_YHd5E_wo42cYVFlPxl5ifttH7KxvZg6Zy_t5lrRghh_s5FLfB6IWaTZ0YvlEDs2_atbn8ebu-QZNeLg/s320/Favin+SJ+shot.jpeg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying Favian for the first time.</td></tr>
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Of course, I can't wait to get out there with Favian and start building my partnership with him... but there are a couple of things he will have to get used to being newly acclimated to the east coast. He's never been turned out on grass before, something Sudley Farm boasts a lot of, and he will have to get used to the sometimes oppressing humidity of Maryland in the summer. My hope for this season is to build a relationship together at Prelim and end with a 1* in the fall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV-ul6ERHr9acgXBX7YR33Yb7e9yJUjDRSKdDH9xzUyH7I-mEkssxGpIgV2sJUg9vokXFTh962TiyrIUEFoSKBf04oaCP6ggX0XuDuRKf3VBCmHoBQdHWUY0VMCSWv7JCg-D8mPEvpnY/s1600/Favian+xc+shot.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV-ul6ERHr9acgXBX7YR33Yb7e9yJUjDRSKdDH9xzUyH7I-mEkssxGpIgV2sJUg9vokXFTh962TiyrIUEFoSKBf04oaCP6ggX0XuDuRKf3VBCmHoBQdHWUY0VMCSWv7JCg-D8mPEvpnY/s320/Favian+xc+shot.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favian showing off his XC style!</td></tr>
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I am so excited to get back onto the international scene, this has been a long time in the making! I truly believe this is the horse that will it happen. I am so thankful for the support of my owners, clients, and staff- this wouldn't be possible without them! Another HUGE thanks to Liza, Heather and Tamie for helping to make this opportunity possible!<br />
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There are still a few syndicate shares available- contact me if you would like to know how you can get involved!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSis0kuY1AGWZy_wTwjQodVPype5TKB14xxuVJdnmBoWoc_6g2UsZY117n9NuCUnJovmWCZLJj6chSx4s-KTZ8KwNdtp5Sqoo8vKX89jKUuW2TmgP1PU7n8wlD8HH7GEM2mb2MbleVhUg/s1600/Val+and+Favhead+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSis0kuY1AGWZy_wTwjQodVPype5TKB14xxuVJdnmBoWoc_6g2UsZY117n9NuCUnJovmWCZLJj6chSx4s-KTZ8KwNdtp5Sqoo8vKX89jKUuW2TmgP1PU7n8wlD8HH7GEM2mb2MbleVhUg/s320/Val+and+Favhead+2.jpeg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favian and I getting aquatinted at the KY Horse Park... where I hope we come back to compete in just a few years ;)</td></tr>
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<br />Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-14708592442637993342016-04-24T10:38:00.001-07:002016-04-24T10:38:59.303-07:00BCE Welcomes the Infamous Dewey Square to Sudley Farm!<span style="font-family: inherit;">Blue Clover Eventing couldn't be more excited to announce the arrival of Dewey Square at Sudley Farm. Dewey Square, who is on a mission to prove just how versatile and well rounded thoroughbreds are for multiple different disciplines, started his first career as an acclaimed race horse. Bred by Siena Farm (a first class boutique race horse breeding facility in Paris, Kentucky) Dewey Square is the <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">son of Bernardini out of the multiple stakes winning mare Somethinaboutbetty (by Forestry). From the beginning it was clear that Dewey was a force to be reckoned with, winning his first 2 races by huge margins. There was even whispering of Derby potential. Dewey first started developing his huge fan base on the track, thanks much in part to his Facebook page.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXIVZfRTMxBXWDWGmiDwH01Czj9GDTOoGBlBnBhl_PPCeh18Y6PwhyphenhyphenVN9nYiJz0ysa8U71hAbQznYAZpBoFoX1cVTi3qWNXLkYgAtHW2cVv2VS8U6-ma3LMOKMiu3F-sO3Z9t_B1a5Nk/s1600/Dewey+at+the+track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXIVZfRTMxBXWDWGmiDwH01Czj9GDTOoGBlBnBhl_PPCeh18Y6PwhyphenhyphenVN9nYiJz0ysa8U71hAbQznYAZpBoFoX1cVTi3qWNXLkYgAtHW2cVv2VS8U6-ma3LMOKMiu3F-sO3Z9t_B1a5Nk/s320/Dewey+at+the+track.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Dewey Square winning hearts and turning heads on the track</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">As it turned out, Dewey was not destined to win the Derby and instead of sending him to claims races, Siena Farm decided to bring Dewey home. Instead Dewey would start a second career in the hunter/jumper arena with 14 year old Isabela de Sousa. Dewey and Isabela learned together and developed an inspiring partnership as they competed in the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover- winning the 2015 RRHP jumpers division and placing very well in the hunters. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUSCOgiw2G0Qsv48M0TZvyG41sKW2RIndNl8AdlOrNLoRqqoCpOG2rLICtwSQSdDgdvUT5qaaaa5dNvXQ54FGQJucoh016gwG3dF4XMeUFgWEsmrQoQmQpooL1spmtZxmZjzCjf8sFN0/s1600/dewey+and+isabela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUSCOgiw2G0Qsv48M0TZvyG41sKW2RIndNl8AdlOrNLoRqqoCpOG2rLICtwSQSdDgdvUT5qaaaa5dNvXQ54FGQJucoh016gwG3dF4XMeUFgWEsmrQoQmQpooL1spmtZxmZjzCjf8sFN0/s320/dewey+and+isabela.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8d2m8QuMpsil_vGw4gxADw8ARyFhSRdDxHtAqhVf9JT7wR-fno42cN0kbys8xHecmysHwAb_t1X4i8DrQQpnRuF0bkub7CwRtf-FwCplLVfP-KAq5EoEd3aQxWcp9b2PinRZXB6qwoA/s1600/dewey+jumping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8d2m8QuMpsil_vGw4gxADw8ARyFhSRdDxHtAqhVf9JT7wR-fno42cN0kbys8xHecmysHwAb_t1X4i8DrQQpnRuF0bkub7CwRtf-FwCplLVfP-KAq5EoEd3aQxWcp9b2PinRZXB6qwoA/s320/dewey+jumping.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Dewey and Isabela competing in the Thoroughbred Makeover</span></td></tr>
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<tr></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Now, at just 6 years old, Dewey is beginning yet another adventure, proving once again just how versatile this thoroughbred is. Dewey has joined his new owner, Nicholas D'Amore, (grandson of owner/breeder Anthony Manganaro) to begin his eventing career in Maryland. Even though we have only had Dewey for hardly a week his potential and raw athleticism are undeniable. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NuSwX5ZU78GrBOwdpgPF-xodIu6N55Ml3jkRpMx8rIa4VoSB97KxA37Y34o10nOugtDRQ4wrWl3EVpGM3KmMAuY2gZWhMbTAkpH1nxNjpnzpxg1WYT-pVeIcO-sIedx58azMhUNOmP0/s1600/Dewwy+trot.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NuSwX5ZU78GrBOwdpgPF-xodIu6N55Ml3jkRpMx8rIa4VoSB97KxA37Y34o10nOugtDRQ4wrWl3EVpGM3KmMAuY2gZWhMbTAkpH1nxNjpnzpxg1WYT-pVeIcO-sIedx58azMhUNOmP0/s320/Dewwy+trot.jpeg" width="290" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Dewey showing off his lovely gaits at Sudley Farm</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am so excited to bring this horse along and help Nick develop a relationship with him. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Nick to have the first green horse he has worked with be such a talented and kind one. Dewey may be a fierce competitor but he his also super classy and kind to handle and work with. Everything about this horse screams Four Star Superstar and I expect that that thanks to all of the people who have worked so hard on this horse in the past that he will advance through the levels quickly! Stay tuned to hear about all of Dewey's progress and events this season- we can't wait for him to make his debut as an event horse!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3Mvt3JAb54vvzNFzdpxVkqbqsMfnJKJPyvQYvYFQyj1g9ZZRYNv0T_dEGisQj7MEjeAoWLRVvPub_Q3SQdy5bIlWpj_s9C22Qdedu268Yqssd3Qj1205oHWDY7NWzfO-J6MyW4onpQk/s1600/dewey+face+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3Mvt3JAb54vvzNFzdpxVkqbqsMfnJKJPyvQYvYFQyj1g9ZZRYNv0T_dEGisQj7MEjeAoWLRVvPub_Q3SQdy5bIlWpj_s9C22Qdedu268Yqssd3Qj1205oHWDY7NWzfO-J6MyW4onpQk/s400/dewey+face+shot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We can't wait to see what the future will bring for Nick and Dewey Square!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-79228721959579316372016-04-17T14:16:00.003-07:002016-04-17T14:20:30.863-07:00BCE is back from Aiken and ready to get this summer started!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After another exciting and non-stop winter in Aiken, Blue
Clover Eventing is back home in Maryland at our lovely Sudley Farm and reminded
of how lucky we are to work out of such a phenomenal facility!!<br />
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are definitely happy to be home so they can do some ground hog hunting :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTc7YiRuo1IVOBNJtrSOWXfC31XeC4T0thAn9JVCJxSh6Yz6N3gxSz2H-nw8EHrER7HK7oi8Tu2sW7s5CF-BmUP4WebZ4-qQXrefGuG_2LNRkdzUGaeNHOstLRbjKdt9q9sIrUyOMWRso/s1600/SF+indoor+outside.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTc7YiRuo1IVOBNJtrSOWXfC31XeC4T0thAn9JVCJxSh6Yz6N3gxSz2H-nw8EHrER7HK7oi8Tu2sW7s5CF-BmUP4WebZ4-qQXrefGuG_2LNRkdzUGaeNHOstLRbjKdt9q9sIrUyOMWRso/s320/SF+indoor+outside.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our last stop on the way home from Aiken was The Fork where
Alex and Willie Wiggins made their big debut at their first CIC 1*, and placed
just outside the top 10- I couldn’t be more proud of these 2 and how far they
have come! Cary Chavis also deserves huge congratulations on his second
successful trip around the red squares with Game On, his amazing 6 year old
sport horse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t say enough
about Cary and Game On- they are such a great partnership and have endless possibly
together. They are gearing up for their first 2* together at Fair Hill next
weekend which is especially impressive given how young Bo is and how quickly
they have advanced!! Meanwhile, Cary is also building a successful relationship
with his newer horse, Game On, as they compete at Prelim. </div>
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Poe and Fing also had a triumphant winter in Aiken as they
cleaned up at the lower levels everywhere they went! Nick and George continue
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Carolina International in March!</div>
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Alex and Willie Wiggins looking confident as they jump out
of the water at The Fork CCI 1*!</div>
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Tyler, seamlessly managed our transition from Aiken, to the Fork and then
finally back home at Sudley Farm and has things put together and running
smoothly as we gear up for a busy spring/summer season. We have several new
additions to the BCE family including Tayler and her very cool 17 hand OTTB,
Admiral, who I think will be running around the upper levels in no time!
Savannah and Logan have also started riding with BCE on their lovely OTTBs,
Fuhr and Forty, who have tons of potential to do great things!</div>
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of all of the things I have to be thankful for- such amazing horses to work
with everyday, Tyler and Amanda keeping the program running smoothly, and
outstanding and supportive clients. I’m hoping that in the next couple of weeks
I have one more big thing to be thankful for, stay tuned for what I hope will
be a big announcement! </div>
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Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-62884776638711620412013-04-28T18:08:00.002-07:002013-04-28T18:08:42.882-07:00The Blur That Was Aiken<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">An Obsessed Lercher</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I have retyped the first sentence of this blog at least 27 times! I have yet to manage a single sentence that can really introduce or summarize
Aiken 2013. So positive and so exciting in so many ways! The Lercher has
never been happier having a golf cart to call his very own. And yet simultaneously we had so many disastrous things happen as well...like Holly walking a young horse, it spooks, falls down
and crushes her foot in the stirrup. Hence needing a golf cart in the
first place. Or Stacy falling off in slow motion and trying to save
herself in a way that snaps her wrist in half. Or having to talk to a really brave girl about doing the right
thing for her horse. Little Bear still doesn't understand why he spent more time at the vet clinic than on a cross country course. We had ulcers, literally, mysteriously injured
ankles, cops pulling over horse trailers at 4 in the morning, pretty
sure we saw dead people, I mean I can't make this stuff up! I don't want to glance over all of our not so great moments, </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">
it is because of those moments that we can appreciate and be grateful
for every little amazing thing that happens! So I'm not going to dwell
on them, either....</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really Warm Day at Paradise</td></tr>
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<br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">And
thus we begin the recap of what was two amazing months in South
Carolina. I usually say warm and sunny South Carolina. This year, we had
some warm days; but we were plagued with rain like it's never rained
before! Luckily we have the most amazing facility in all of Aiken and it
didn't slow us down one bit. Just kinda made us bitch and put our
iPhones under 5 layers so they didn't drown :) I want to thank everyone
that makes Aiken possible! First and foremost the generous owners of
Shag Hill Farm, I aspire to be like Samantha Charles when I grow up! I
think the world of her and Aiken wouldn't be the same without her, and I
know I am not alone when I say that!! We are so fortunate to go back every year and pick up right where we left off, same great people and situations. Huge shout out to our vets and staff at Peformance Equine and our farrier Darren who for some reason keeps answering our texts and frantic voice messages! I also want to thank my girls
Trisha and Stacy, who work their asses off quite literally we call it
the Blue Clover Eventing weight loss program :) I depend on these girls
and trust them to love and care for my ponies like they would their own
children. Well, better than they would their own children lol. So bummed
that Stacy broke, although it was literally the last week and she and
her Magic Mike horse made super progress over the two months they were
there. Look for him to move quickly up the levels, winning along the
way! And Trisha I am happy to report looked like a pro cruising around
the toughest Preliminary competitions on her main man Final Statement.
There's a 1* in their very near future, and they deserve to come home
with prizes!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Stacy smiling about having two functioning wrists</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I also want to send out a huge thank you to the owners and clients that make this whole circus possible. This year, I was inspired by a bunch of Aiken rookies. And man did they hold their own! We had winners, too many ribbons to count, good times had by everyone and I mean it when I say everyone! We all know eventers aren't doing what we do for the money, and this year was a prime example of how fulfilling my life can be, inspiring and helping all of these amazing, talented people to achieve
their dreams, whatever they may be. We are so fortunate to be a part of
such a community, Holly's owners really rallied around what could have
been a disastrous situation and instead I think we had one of our most
fun years to date! I know Holly didn't have a ton of fun having to watch me ride and compete her favorite ponies, and believe me I wish the circumstances had been different; but at the end of the day I declare things a great success! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3Jo79LJkGfPbwOPs4L4OIkfcTrgpm8JxKkc-8_K2n8cl9N9sF7HN1A4FoxhD7t8sS-SLgpdoITcRo_0gli4N8HXKRrOnEjygeSq3dzg3mP6GdXV5VKUW2dP_fT3xtXTDj2KuYo9mn00/s1600/AubreyGunsmoke.jpg" /> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">As usual, Aiken gives us a huge head start on the rest of the season. Already we have students schooling levels higher than they competed last fall, with several good runs early in the season. We have qualified for the American Eventing Championships, whether or not we choose to drive to Texas....Winston I am thrilled to say is like a completely different horse after a lot of hard work from a lot of different people. I am really looking forward to what the rest of the season may bring with him! He had super finishes at Pine Top and The Fork on our way home. Next up for him is the big Intermediate! Thanks to everyone who made that possible, especially his owners Greyside LLC. Haven't even had him a year yet and I can't believe the difference we have been able to make! Looking forward to June and the rest of 2013! </span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aubrey wins the Sportsmanship Award!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-6264248428875606942013-02-06T14:00:00.003-08:002013-02-06T14:00:55.005-08:00We're Baaaaaaack!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely house and barn at Shag Hill.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">February 1 is a day much anticipated at Blue Clover Eventing....it's the day that we officially roll out of Davidsonville MD at some ungodly hour of the morning with a flotilla of trailers to relocate to<b> the eventing mecca that is Aiken!</b> I won't even try to pretend that the days leading up to February 1 are fun or painless; but at the end of the day <b>I think everyone agrees all of the freaking out and running around is completely justified</b> and in fact, we have already signed ourselves back up for Aiken 2014. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like a truck stop sunrise</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">But let's not get too ahead of ourselves. We just barely unpacked the 13 horses and 2 dogs that we brought with us to join my dogless twin Holly Payne and forever Aiken accomplice. For whatever reason, <b>Samantha keeps inviting us back to her amazing Shag Hill Farm located in <a href="http://www.hatchawaybridgefarms.com/" target="_blank">Hatchaway Bridge Farms</a>.</b> Trisha and Kathy, head grooms and lifelines for Holly and I, picked up the routine as though we had never left last April! Horses were turned out frolicking in the sand and sun, well some were frolicking some knew they were being watched like hawks and frolicking would result in a loss of turn out privileges! In all seriousness, however, <b>my horses are soooo happy in Aiken, which makes me very happy!</b> And why would they not be? We have literally hundreds of acres to ride on, including our amazing field of dreams which Winston thoroughly enjoyed jumping on this afternoon. Our barn is over the top in creature comforts, and we have outside stalls so our ponies can have fun in the sun all day every day.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winston's first jump school in Aiken.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> I've already done my most favorite trot down Fox Pond Road, I survived passing the miniature burros and spotted ponies and enjoyed the company of a fox hunter in town from Millbrook and we spent the entire time talking about my best friends chasing coyote in Arizona - proving the point that it is a small world after all! I've been cross country schooling - twice in fact - and had a whirlwind show for sales (which reminds me to put in a plug<b> for all of our cool sales horses, check them out <a href="http://blueclovereventing.com/Sale%20Horses/SaleHorses.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>). And it's been how many days since we got into town?! Just a few more days until <b>we compete for the first time at Paradise,</b> let the games begin!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> It is a lot of fun having new horses and people with us this year. <b>Stacy has heard all about Aiken and we are really excited to get her new Magic Mike horse out</b> into the real world while down here. And she deserves to have the time of her life, she and Trisha are amazing and had all of Blue Clover Eventing organized and packed for our most seamless mass exodus ever! <b>Trisha will be making her 2013 debut at Sporting Days</b>, then it is full speed ahead to the 1* at Virginia come May stay tuned for that adventure! <b>Winston is already busy training for the 2* at Fair Hill this fall</b>, he promises to turn right by then hahahaa. <b>I have my fleet of beginner novice super stars </b>ready and waiting to clean up at Paradise and Sporting Days, let me just warn the competition now! They are piloted by some ace students of mine, and we had a really positive cross country school at Sporting Days just yesterday. Each and every one of the exceed my expectations, and it is just too much fun when we have days like that! And you gotta have fun when you work as hard as we do. We do our best, you know pizza parties and wine while waiting for shippers at midnight; but at the end of the day we are some pretty lucky people and we know it. Can't wait for all of our other people to get down here and join in on the festivities!</span><br />
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<br />Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-10709254422785961172013-01-12T15:13:00.000-08:002013-01-12T15:13:55.225-08:00Horse Holiday!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunting with The Tedworth</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">Hello All, and yes, I am still alive, thriving even, after my fantastic trip to England! I know, I know, it is hard to believe that I chose to spend Christmas and New Years on a horse rather than on a beach somewhere. Though I did have a fantastic time at Danny Warrington's house in the Keys in the beginning of December you should ask him about it next time you see him. But, I digress. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All That Jazz barely visible for our ride!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">I got to spend 10 fabulous days in England doing all things horses. I now understand what Linda and the others were talking about with all of the rain leading up to the Olympics. I wore my signature sunglasses twice, for a total of 15 minutes, during my entire stay lol. I am sorry that I didn't get a picture for the girls, I seem to repel dirt in the US (now that I have completely jinxed myself the next time I put on my best white show britches) and I guarantee you that my riding clothes have never seen that kind of mud in their lifetime. I was unrecognizable! That being said, it was much warmer there than in Davidsonville MD, which upon my return reminded me exactly why I pack for Aiken earlier and earlier every year! I stayed with good friends at <a href="http://www.biddesdenstud.co.uk/" target="_blank">Biddesden, </a>and while I didn't know exactly what I was in for, I was willing and able! They didn't disappoint, I got to the house at 1130 Sunday morning, in time for a 12 o'clock drinks party, a 1 o'clock luncheon, and then I was on my first horse, a lovely type named All That Jazz, and rode until dark! A girl could really get used to this. In fact, a girl really DID get used to this!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">The eventer, and well really horseman, in me idolizes everything England. Yards and stables (never managed to get the lingo down my apologies as an ethnocentric American) are quaint and workmanlike, all tucked into the landscape. In fact I rode for hours and hours and never saw the uninterrupted countryside scarred with McMansions! Everyone has a walker and a gallop; but not an indoor which I think speaks volumes. Horses were rugged with 8 blankets and outside being horses. It was a little shocking at first all of the riding on the roads, during my days as a whipper-in I used to hold my breath any time I had to cross asphalt especially that shiny slipper kind. Yet, on Christmas day I took part in the traditional ride into the village. How fun! We decorated horses and rode, some humans in costume, into town and all around - I will be prepared next time and pack accordingly! One of my favorite rides of the trip was on a 3 year old named Sorbet. We weren't five minutes away from the yard, on the road, when all of these loose sheep start leaping down the banks and crossing the road and scurrying up the other side as though they were fabled Irish fox hunters. Finn, head honcho of Biddesden and one of my most favorite people in the whole world, continues riding on his lovely hunter and carrying the conversation. Meanwhile, I'm trying to gather handfuls of breastplate AND neck strap with my left hand, bracing for impact, not sure if I'm going to use my dressage whip on my horse or the sheep. I think Sorbet was too shocked to react hahaha, actually he's just a really nice horse like all of them at Biddesden.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising in style in a lorry.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">My hosts did look kindly upon me for my hunting mounts, for which I am grateful. The entire experience was so shockingly different from the US in the best of ways. I freaked out for a week about what attire to pack - and at the end of the day who the hell cared you were muddy and bloody and smiling and that's all that really counts! Just getting to the meet was half the battle. Riding in the lorry was much different than rolling in with the dually and a 6 horse, though I suppose the lorry is much easier to fit in the pub parking lot? </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">I was absolutely spoiled the last time I went, sitting on none other than Tamarillo's full sister and an Intermediate horse in her own right. Hunting was really a humbling experience. A rude awakening for me - galloping thru this muck that I wouldn't even WALK an Intermediate horse thru hahahah and I am focusing in this completely Jedi mindset that I will stay upright winging around thru the woods. I'm giving myself a pep talk - like I'm an advanced level eventer and I could be teaching all of these other riders and I'm on this awesome horse, I got this - and my thoughts are completely interrupted by this 10 year old kid on a pony that goes zinging by me thinking 'piss off lady you are going too slow.' Awesome. There was a bit of pressure, I feel, as though I was representing my country or something. Too bad I didn't get that chance in London just a few months earlier; but hey I'll take what I can get. I jumped everything, even complete and utter larking at times, because everyone was watching to see if the American would do it. So thank you lovely chestnut mare for packing my ass around and making me look like I knew what I was doing somehow jumping these massive hedge things out of bottomless muck. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ride to the village Christmas morning.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">There were some casualties to keep all of you entertained, no worries. So we went on this fabulous hunt Saturday, New Years on Monday. The horses at the beginning are a little amped, as you can imagine, and my dear friend Rebecca rides up after being MIA for a bit. I'm distracted by all of the blood on her stock tie. And then I'm noticing it on her gloves and then I'm freaking out looking at it all over her face courtesy of a busted nose. Once she convinced me she was as okay as one could be at this point, I found myself sitting even more in the backseat and grateful that my horse was equipped with a martingale. Well, fast forward to a little later during the ride when we negotiate what I can best describe as a sunken road exercise with low hanging branches. My feisty lady did not appreciate the traffic jam, and in a way that I can only appreciate decided to take matters into her own hands (yes, we got along fabulously as I knew exactly where she was coming from). Unfortunately I was required to make a split second decision to avoid decapitation that resulted in my face mashing into her poll at an alarming rate of speed. I was certain I was spitting teeth into my gloves, so when that didn't happen I was momentarily relieved. The damage was done, however, and adding insult to injury it is extremely painful and awkward to nip off of a flask with a busted lip! And let me tell you, I was H.O.T. for New Years amongst the fashion elite of London! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who talked to me and talked yourselves out of staring uncontrollably at my lip wondering what kind of disease I had lol.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's sexy and he knows it!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">Being with the cool kids, I got to meet some fabulous people, see some pretty A OK things, though perhaps one of the highlight introductions was when I got to rub elbows with Tamarillo! By far the most famous Biddesden horse and to which all others will be forever compared I'm certain. He is a total mint-monger, as you can see him still begging and licking his lips in the picture above. He is as cool as you would expect him to be, like every other multiple 4* winner who deserves to spend his life eating grass and mints and hazing the newbies. Now 20 or 21 I can't remember, we pulled him out of the field where he's retired at WFPs and he still looks better than horses that I see running around at Prelim! Tam confirmed everything classy about eventing and the amazing horses that we are lucky enough to have in our lives. I could have stared at his eye for an hour, sounds kinda creepy as I reread that; but I know all of you know exactly what I'm talking about. Who woulda thought that I would take a vacation from horses by going and spending time with more horses. Hell, I rode horses without pay for 10 days!!!!! and I'd do it all over again. I didn't come home and ride on the road, I mean let's not be crazy; but I did jump yesterday outside in the rain just on principle :)</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"> </span>Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-21740799612699753542012-11-05T20:51:00.000-08:002012-11-05T20:51:35.964-08:00Midsouth Mishap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span><span style="background-color: blue;"></span></span><span style="color: blue;">Poor little Winston is still wondering what happened at Midsouth lol. Thanks to EN for taking and posting the above picture. I'm happy to report that we were the Best Presented for the CCI* and there is usually a price to pay for all of that fashion and beauty! For Trisha and Winston, it means numerous baths at all times of the day during all different temperatures poor grey pony! And for me, I was limping during my practice jog due to a rock in my cute little blinged-out flats! Luckily I had just enough time to take care of that matter while Winston kept his eye on the line. The ground jury does not appreciate a fashionably late appearance!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">This was my first time competing at Midsouth and I was very impressed. The secretary and her crew were very friendly and accommodating, the judging was great, the Kentucky Horse Park was fabulous as always. It has been a long time since I went to an event for the first time, I hope that Winston and I have a lot of those ahead of us like major 3 days across the pond! So good to get used to all of that now! The atmosphere was fun, the show was oversubscribed and you could tell this was the highlight and grand finale of everyone's season.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Friday I had a fairly early dressage although that proved to be lucky because the winds kept picking up and the temperatures kept going down all day! Winston was not totally thrilled with the dressage complex, I hope that he enjoys the Main Arena when he heads back for Rolex ha ha ha but seriously! The walk to get there made you feel very disconnected from the show, stabling, everything. He really liked his workouts in the arenas right next to the barns, and the footing there was fabulous. Unfortunately, however, that's not where dressage was set up. We had to hack a good 10 minutes past the killer Budweiser Clydesdales, or at least Winston was convinced they were carnivorous. He saw two of them in bright red blankets grooming each other and I thought he was going to absolutely lose his mind! What was even worse was trying to walk past their giant semis, also red but with larger than life sized pictures and paintings of the Clydesdales all along the sides. I honestly think he thought they were alive and the poor guy had nervous breakdowns every time he had to go past them! Sadly what Winston didn't realize was, the worse he was the more he had to do it. I had ridden him quite a few times by the time we went down the centerline. He held it together, not only for the best test we have done so far BUT I received a personal best score ever at an FEI competition! I can only imagine what we could have done if he was really relaxed and happy in the dressage area! </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Saturday came quickly and with some pretty good footing for cross country. We could have used even more rain on Friday afternoon; I say that of course as someone who did her dressage Friday morning lol. The course was I think a true championship CCI test. There were quite a few questions where the direct line and striding was VERY forward like you needed to be on a 2* horse to get the 1* done. Lucky for me, that's the pony that showed up that morning! It was the best start to a course Winston and I have had, galloping straight and more or less taking me to the first few fences. There was an approach to the third that would save time; but risky for a left drifting animal which I have and on the way to it I knew already I could be aggressive and he was game. He was very brave at the first water which was also the first Rolex water this year. It was a big brush in to a bending line skinny. I was nervous about the striding and anxious to watch from warm up. I watched the first rider get a perfect half stride and fall. Awesome. Luckily Winston was right there to listen and we negotiated it handily. I angled the big open oxer at 6 which made us both feel bold and full of running. I paid for that at 7, the second water, where my Irish pony and I had some words over steering. But we came to an agreement in the nick of time for the big log drop in. Because I didn't get the shot in that I wanted, I had to add up on the direct line which was good of Winston to stay straight, then I had to kick like hell to get a nice jump off the bend to the corner on the way out. So proud of him, two months ago he never would have thought there would be a "B" or a "C" after the drop in! Your reward for negotiating the water were these massive hedges, three strides apart and they might have been some of the most significant feeling fences I have ever ridden. I kept telling myself that I was on an Irish fox hunter and surely he's seen something like this before. The pessimist in me said yes well there is probably a reason why he's no longer an Irish fox hunter and I sure hoped it had nothing to do with his inability to jump hedges! Winston jumped thru in his perfect form good boy! Then it was off to the coffin, another obstacle that I walked a trench into on Friday evening. We are new enough in our partnership that I could see so many lines and distances and options. At the end of the day, I went direct and my horse was awesome and he went scorching around that whole field really, felt like he was eating up the ground and galloping with a purpose for the first time since I have owned him. It was a great feeling! By the end, I was riding the direct lines with the forward distances just coming right up and Winston was being such a real cross country horse, honest and looking for his next fence and giving you the feeling that he was going to get the job done. A big thank you to Trisha and Kendall for getting him cooled out so quickly and professionally after this huge effort!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Sunday was a day I think I would almost rather forget :P The highlight was my mom was there to watch me ride for the first time since 2006. It was really fun and special having her there. I had a rail in hand and was pretty confident I would be coming home the USEF 1* National Champion. Winston is a phenomenal show jumper and has had a rail I think total in all of my competitions with him. The track was fairly straight forward. The footing not so great; but I'm on a nimble Irish horse is what I told myself. The rails weren't terribly bright nor the fences decorated; but Winston is such a careful jumper I figured he would still hold himself off pretty well. I had a wild man in warm up, didn't see that coming, he started off fine and then got so fired up watching the novice horses run out on the cross country course! He was jumping well in warm up although a big exuberantly to say the least. I never thought for a moment that he was tired; but hindsight is always 20/20 and on Monday and Tuesday I watched him eat grass while laying down in his paddock! Anyway, it wasn't like things were going terribly; but I know my horse well enough to know that he wasn't firing off the ground and leaving a foot to spare as is his usual style. I was keeping it together enough until the triple, 9ABC and 10, the final fence. I got in weak to 9A and a little tight and rather than be able to wrap around it, Winston had the rail. He jumped out well but again not like I know he can. So I make my approach to the final fence which was a vertical plank. I told myself that I needed to give him a gap, that's how he is more comfortable and that's where he preferred to jump from when we bought him. We've been working so much on that however, and I'm afraid only half finished our work! So when I went to move him up for the gap, he was totally panicked and thinking that he had to get closer and wrap around the jump. So we came to a screeching halt. It was awful, I don't know if the crowd gasped or if I just imagined it although I think it was a little of both. We came back around and I just more or less stuffed him over it and he had the rail. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">And that was that. From winning to right out of the Top Ten in the blink of an eye! I was so sad for everyone, everyone at Greyside who made this horse possible, for Trisha and Stacy who deserved to have a winning horse because they certainly make him look that way all the time! I was sad for myself and my mom. I felt like I let Karen down. The first half of the drive home felt like it lasted an eternity until I could pick myself up and enjoy the scenery (the drive this time of year was absolutely breathtaking with all of the changing of the leaves). I slowly but surely arrived at a philosophic and meaningful perspective. I had to laugh, the Best Presented award looked like a giant championship tri-color and the whole walk back to stabling I was getting stopped and congratulated by everyone who assumed we had won. Made me feel good that we at least looked like the winners lol. Winston tried to do everything he was supposed to do and I can say that I tried my best as well, and at the end of the day that is pretty much all you can do. Our sport is a very humbling one to say the least. I hope that Winston and I got this miscommunication out of the way early on in our career so that we can be destined for great things in our future!</span><br />
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<br />Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-88493387222570409552012-09-25T18:19:00.001-07:002012-09-25T18:19:16.845-07:00Best.Event.Ever.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Last week Plantation sent out a blast email referring to itself as the Best.Event.Ever. Well, close! I may be slightly biased since I was really happy with the way that Fernhill Whatever performed all weekend. That, combined with the fact that he was the only horse I took, made it feel like a bit of a vacation!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Plantation has come a long way in what seems like such a short time. The arena really does have spectacular footing and dresses up nicely with tents, classy dressage arenas, and beautiful show jumping fences like the wall pictured above! Stabling is very user friendly, and the shuttles up the massive hill are life savers (says the person with a dead minibike wah wah). It would be great if they made one truck lane so we felt like we knew we were allowed to drive up and back instead of stealth dashing here there and everywhere waiting to get busted by Dennis ha. The cross country course flowed so much better this year which is of course the reason we all came!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I'm sorry that Winston's owners didn't get a chance to visit the venue, there was a lot going on for spectators (I mean, mechanical bull riding!), a great vendor village, fair food, all the finer things in life. The weather was incredible. This year I packed a jog outfit appropriate for a freezing cold morning! It still didn't stop me from getting trotted off the jog strip. They do need to give the GJ somewhere to stand other than up against the bushes, as I was not the first nor the last combination to take out the mums and leap off the ledge away from the scary judges! Trisha was the main beneficiary of their absence and ate and drank their fair share up at the Sponsors Tent. But she deserved it! She is an amazing worker, a fun person to spend a weekend with, and makes my grey pony sparkle!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Luckily Winston wasn't very scared of the judges in the dressage, he put in a lovely, relaxed test that was fairly accurate. I was SO thankful to have Karen back in my life lol but seriously just knowing that she is there watching and answering important questions for me like Do I go inside or outside of the tree??? is so reassuring! Even if my way of showing it is by crashing thru the 2' oxer in show jumping warm up but we won't really talk about that. Focusing back on the sandbox, if I had it to do all over again I would have liked to pump up my trot a bit more, and I will be working on that tomorrow in my Linda lesson! Feeling confident in my counter cantering skills on the big guy now at least.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Saturday was a beautiful day for cross country and we got to go first yay! I'm starting to think a little like Winston, building a partnership so I know what is going to be the best approach and option for Winston specifically. After the first minute I felt like my steering really clicked in, and it was by far the most positive and forward cross country ride to date. He was great at both waters, and the first water was certainly spooky with the white rails in. He conquered Plantation's world famous elephant trap so we can check that off the list :) I must admit that everything was really quite pleasant. One more round like that to prove it was skills and not luck and I declare us ready for Intermediate!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Show jumping was a bit the same story. I know him well enough now that I was confident about the distances I wanted to do in the lines, and Karen was very helpful with the technicalities of my turns and what shots I needed into the combinations. For the most part, I was very pleased. Winston jumped very straight and was very game without being obnoxious after a fast and clean show jumping round. I was too aggressive getting the forward 6 done in the first line, ended up pulling the last two strides and an inverted horse equals a rail at a square oxer - these things I know! I promise to do better next time!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">And I'm very excited that the next time will be the Preliminary Championships at Morven Park, and then it is off to the MidSouth CCI*. Never been there for that and am really looking forward to it, should feel like a proper test. Many thanks again to Greyside for giving me the opportunity to campaign such a lovely animal. I am really looking forward to a strong finish to our first season together, and for all of the fun things to come in 2013!</span><br />
<br />Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-33973718652197929832012-09-14T15:25:00.001-07:002012-09-14T15:25:08.204-07:00Fun at Five Points<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit High Time Photography</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Fernhill Whatever was really looking forward to whatever came next on his cross country course! And I am looking forward to a big future with "Winston" to say the least! <b>We had a great time at Five Points last weekend, it was a big Blue Clover Eventing trip </b>since there doesn't appear to be a Fair Hill in our fall wah wah; but I'd say a good time was had by all. Lucky for all of us, Stacy's parents own a condo in Southern Pines and we were living the life of luxury let me tell you. Most excited was the lercher, of course, having an actual floor to sleep on and not reside in the truck for the evening - we all know he prefers the couch but let's not get crazy :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Horses traveled well and we went straight to dressage-ing on Friday afternoon. I wish I was a bit more prepared, the past few years I've gotten there via Aiken and so I didn't have my food and diesel stops mapped out along the way ha we arrived hungry and without Diet Coke egads! I have only been to the Carolina Horse Park for Southern Pines II and the dressage pad looked so big, only having to hold 3 arenas instead of the crazy 7 or 8 that I'm used to seeing. The atmosphere however was still apparent and all but Tanner had to get ridden down a bit. Good old Tanner, that's precisely why he was Alex's Beginner Novice Rider super star:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">There really wasn't much time to dwell on our dressage on Saturday, which is too bad because we were all great! <b>Bailey and Trisha put in the best performance they have had yet,</b> from the moment she stepped in warm up you knew it was going to be good and it was, had them second by the smallest of margins. <b>I was also pleased with Brew, </b>he had a bit of a nervous breakdown at the dressage pad at Richland. And now, after one away show, he is obviously the seasoned competitor because he put it a very relaxed and steady test. Unfortunately it was a bit like the AECs, if you don't get in the teens at Training you aren't in the top ten poor guy! I don't suppose that Brew much cares, however, and he was the first to go of our crew around the cross country course. Half way around I was telling myself that he really needs to move up to Prelim because this was too easy for him. Then I realized what I was saying and I started to focus on what the bleep I was doing before I buried us at a table or something ha. Really though,<b> he cruised thru the water which I think was by far the hardest part of the training, </b>felt like SP II and he cruised in and out and grabbed the bit and took off for the infield. Good pony! Also grabbing the bit was Winston, not always in a great way lol but I did need to be speedy because we were tied for 3rd after dressage. He is such a lovely horse; but I was afraid to do too much with him as he is still lacking fitness after his trip over here and he ran cross country barely an hour after his dressage. I was a little disappointed in the Prelim cross country, I thought the course had some punishing, random turns to it and it lacked the flow that I'm used to feeling there. At least we had our straightness down, he was locked on to the middle of every combination which was my goal. I'm sorry that I didn't meet more of my fences in a positive way and so at Prelim we will stay and do the 1* at Plantation.<b> Trisha and Bailey did an excellent job of being positive their entire way around,</b> this was a big course for The B and we didn't know what to expect out of him having to gallop thru and jump out of the barn! He was great and they were the fastest of the Prelim Riders and gave themselves a rail in hand going into the jumping, always a great feeling. We ended Saturday on a super note, <b>Alex and Tanner put in a lovely, boring BN run</b> and managed to get us all finished and on our way to dinner before a massive storm rolled in!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Sunday was a bit hit or miss I'm not gonna lie. Good news was, Stacy and Trisha were packing genius' and we were outta there like a well oiled machine. Good news was <b>my round on Winston, which I declare our best to date by far, it was a lovely double clear well inside the time and every time I looked for a fence there it was. Second weekend in a row he's been 3rd, means he's been saving his win for the CIC* at Plantation! </b>Good news was Alex's double clear on Tanner let her secure a second place! Good news was I managed to stay on Brew when I fell asleep at the wheel at the combination and ran his poor little grey legs right thru it. Good news was Trisha managed to fall next to and not in to the cactus when Bailey jumped her out of the tack at fence 8. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Good news is, we are off to Plantation and then Morven and then who knows where the rest of the season is going to take us!</span>Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-11597162564496286542012-09-05T19:20:00.000-07:002012-09-05T19:20:31.599-07:00Richland Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">How can you not love<b> Richland Park</b>?? <b>One of my favorite events of the year, </b>totally worth the 11 hour drive thru the nite with a very stinky lercher in the truck. Not sure that everyone else in the truck agreed since it was, after all, my lercher lol. Nonetheless, I do declare a good time was had by all! A huge thanks to Richard who had the yick shift of driving from 11 - 3, and Trisha had such mad packing and unpacking skills (or was it the numerous lattes??) that we were in and out of there in record time. I am one lucky girl! And a big thanks to everyone involved with that horse trials. I learned that they had been watering the grounds for 8 weeks prior to our arrival - unreal. And the corn was once again a highlight of the competitor's party :)</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /><b>We spent some of that 11 hour drive coming up with a barn name for Fernhill Whatever, now officially referred to unofficially as Winston.</b> I guess it was the moment he was waiting for, having a name and all, as <b>it was his best competition to date here in the US, finishing a strong 3rd in a very big, very tough OP division.</b> For a moment I thought disaster was upon us as soon as the counter canter practice began in warm up. Starting to learn his changes, he really does not appreciate the loops in Prelim Test B! He managed to<b> put in a lovely, relaxed test and was rewarded by the judge.</b> So nice when that happens! Cross country the pressure was on to go clean and fast, which means we had to steer! I had a lesson - FINALLY - with Karen lol and it was just the kick in the you know what that I needed to start making him my horse. I got to jump a few oxers with David once there to make sure I didn't leave any skills back in MD. Luckily, not the case!<b> He was super and finished well under the time looking for more.</b> I was especially pleased with the water, as a run out at the corner had plagued me the weekend before at Waredaca. This time, we were picture perfect! I do hope, speaking of which, that the photographers were at the Key Hole - Winston ducked his head and pinned his ears back to make sure he was going to fit. So cute! Show jumping was challenging as always out on the rolling hills. I had a rail, I repeat I had a rail, placings didn't change luckily and we finished the weekend feeling very excited about the future.<b> I will be ready for a clean round this weekend at Five Points and hopefully a blue as well!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Brew would like to take this moment to remind everyone that he did finish 4th in a very tough Training Horse division!</b> He absolutely fought his way up from an undeserved dressage score, it is what we love about that little guy. Quite the spirit that one has! Unfortunately it did get him a little rattled in the dressage; but this was a huge trip in the world of Brew. It is a great feeling in show jumping to know that you are going to leave up all of the rails, I don't know how he does it; but <b>you can get the Brewster to a vertical upside down and backwards and he still jumps it with room to spare. </b>(Knock wood prior to my jumping round this weekend at Five Points, please, that I haven't gotten him upside down and backwards too many times.) Cross country was a pretty similar feeling. I thought the training level was big but fair and inviting, and Brew flew around, certainly rising to the occasion of being in company of 3* horses! Let's hope he has an even better finish this weekend at Southern Pines!</span><br />
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<br />Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-21990851535840091002012-08-06T11:58:00.000-07:002012-08-06T11:58:06.158-07:00Millbrook 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span><span style="background-color: blue;"></span></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>All in all I'd have to declare Millbrook 2012 to be a big success</b> even if we didn't come home with any blue ribbons. Millbrook is one of my favorite events of the year, and obviously I was just a little excited to get to ship up there with the new Fernhill Whatever entered in the Open Prelim. Felix Brew Trisha and Gunsmoke were all along for the ride as well. And <b>I cannot forget to mention the Birthday Boy - Richard </b>- who got to ? celebrate ? on Sunday by packing us up in a flash before the skies opened up!<b> Not sure what we would have done without him,</b> Trisha got her arm yanked out of the socket quite literally on Friday and even thru her stubborn denials it was clear that she was in pain. Luckily we had guest working student Catherine helping us out all weekend as well, although her main job was to try to keep Trisha under control and not working too hard! She did a great job, <b>I am so lucky to be surrounded by such great people. And ponies.</b> So more on that!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Millbrook continues to run a fantastic event, </b>I was excited to see the new water complex and I will be more excited to see what they have in store for us next year now that they have the basic layout. The fence and rocks around the water in my area of tent stabling was fantastic, and we refrained from harming those few jerks who still tried to hose off their horses in the blatantly marked "BUCKET BATHING ONLY" area. I was impressed by the fact that the food tent carried a wide variety of tea - I live so constantly discriminated against as a non-coffee drinker ha ha ha - however my big complaint of the weekend is their thought that food and caffeine are not necessary before 730 at a competition!!! aaahhhh!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">If this is my biggest complaint of the weekend, however, I'd say they are doing everything right. And they pretty much are. We had an interesting beginning to the competition, <b>Felix put in a fantastic test </b>and the judge was just a little stingy in the marks department for the entire division. It was still good enough to be his sales footage, so <b>anyone in the market for a nice upper level prospect currently competing at training level, go ahead and check out the For Sale page on my website!</b> Brew let his nerves get the better of him crossing the road to the big main arena. He was accurate and obedient; but obviously not super relaxed. We are still trying to name poor Fernhill Whatever, so you will just have to bear with me, <b>Whatever was lovely in the dressage </b>although unfortunately the judge did not reward him for his flying changes in the preliminary counter canter movements. Poor guy thought he was doing everything right and kept trying to change. His walk and trot were beautiful, not an ounce of tension, so we have some work to do there! <b>I declare, however, the biggest victory of the weekend to be the fact that I walked all horses back unharmed without having to use the alternate route to stabling lol.</b></span><br />
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We don't think they had these little fellas back in Ireland for Fernhill Whatever!<br /><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Cross country was also a bit hit or miss, fact finding shall we say. <b>Felix had an absolutely brilliant start, his personal best by far, </b>and the tracks really flowed I believe on all levels. He got a little rattled by the loop around the new water complex; I slowed down a touch and we ended strong.<b> I then went out on a mission on Brew knowing time was hard to make </b>and ran my little Ferrari like an Intermediate horse. Poor Brew Brew. He had a fly by at 16, I honestly don't even think he knew he was presented to the fence even though I was trying to get him there off of a very tight turn trying to shave off seconds on the last part of the course. Completely idiot mistake and I hope he forgives me. Whatever and I also had a few mistakes. His fitness is so much better, finally getting over his trip and starting to adjust to the heat and humidity and so I went buzzing off out of the start box. He's such a light and sensitive horse in so many ways, that I could hardly believe my lack of detailed steering went I got to the combination at 5. I felt like a bit of a pony clubber pulling on a rein to make a turn and there he went straight ahead just staring at the ditch and flying over it without giving any consideration to the angles rails one stride later. Hmm. We will have a little schooling session involving me, Whatever, and my bit bucket early next week!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I was very proud of how all my boys handled the hustle and bustle of Millbrook show jumping.</b> <b>Felix was excellent, put in the quietest, most focused round yet. </b>We had a cheap rail in the triple, he was trying to make sure he had enough room in the one stride that he came down just a touch too early. I will never fault him for trying to be too careful and jumping too big!<b> Brew was back to his normal go go bunny self </b>and it was a good thing. They were running behind and we grossly over-calculated my adjusted time. I got into warm up on deck! I picked up a canter and jumped the oxer a few times and Brew acted like this was completely normal, went in and jumped a beautiful clear round. Way to go Brew Brew! <b>Whatever also had a beautiful round.</b> Time was quite tight and you really had to go for it and I was slightly nervous that I was going to have a loss of steering; but I went with the same bit that I used on cross country and bigger spurs and had no issues. So that's good and bad :) I will get the pedals figured out soon enough in the jumping department, he has this giant stride this is so casual all at the same time, and he is so careful. I am a lucky girl to have the ride on such a lovely horse, so I've put quite a bit of pressure on myself to figure out this ride quickly. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>We are gearing up for a big end to the month, Waredaca and then Richland.</b> Yay! Hope to see everyone there! Everyone knows that Kalamazoo is the place to be at the end of August.</span>Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-51021320027442074442012-07-23T14:52:00.003-07:002012-07-23T18:18:21.849-07:00Lovin' Loch Moy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>I have so many positive things to say about my experience at the MD HT II at Loch Moy Farm.</b> I realize that I might be ever so slightly biased by super excitement to compete Fernhill Whatever for the first time. I say with all confidence, however, that I could not have picked a better first competition for my dear new boy!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">I have been competing at Loch Moy since the very very beginning - parking in that lower area and nearly dying trying to hack to and fro will forever haunt me ha. <b>In all seriousness, however, I don't know of a venue that tries harder, and here it is a small family owned and operated dream barely an hour from my barn.</b> The layout of arenas is fabulous - did you notice all of the bleachers and tents for spectators?! The way that it flows for food, vendors, scores and parking? The amenities for horses also amazing - cooling tents and fans for even beginner novice! Watering and dragging of arenas during all breaks! A gentleman in a gator picking up poo from warm up and horse paths HELLO where have you been all of my life!! Add in a top notch secretary with Mary, and a fabulous vet crew (unfortunately my working student had to deal with them on Sunday and even that experience as good as it could possibly be) and I'm happy to go back. And I did. I went schooling there today! And might I add when we got there a crew was picking and raking rocks from the side of the arena and one of the staff was able to plug my flat outside dually tire - another story in itself.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">I know that sounds like a paid advertisement, I promise it came from the bottom of my heart. And so does the praise that I have for my horses students and owners that attended the MD HT II! Obviously <b>the headliner would be the newbie, Fernhill Whatever. </b>It was a complete fact finding mission, poor guy gets here from Ireland in time for a heat wave and even though I had him in the prelim he had jumped maybe twice and done not even an entire trot set for fear of killing him in the humidity. He rose to the occasion, like any great Irish horse I believe would do lol, and absolutely turned heads from the moment he walked off the trailer, literally.<b> He was a dream in the dressage,</b> the right amount of puffed up from warm up that stayed with him into the test. So fabulous to have a horse so straight forward in there. For so many, the performance anxiety creeps in well before the 1* level so what a lucky girl I am! I thought the judge was a bit tough on him, and I realized that all of the scores in that arena were a bit grumpy so not going to dwell on that. I learned in show jumping that I need a slightly different warm up strategy. My only complaint of Loch Moy is that the SJ warm up area is too deep and I find myself not wanting to jump more than 5 times. And then the efficient side of me galloped into the arena and promptly thru the start flags, I think my boy needed a moment to acclimate. He jumped fine; but<b> he is a superb jumper</b> and I need to find a way to make that happen in the ring. I started changing my plan en route and that resulted in my absolutely burying him at the skinny, my rail, he forgave me. Good boy. That's what he gets the carrots for ha ha ha. Cross country was like running a horse in the last two minutes of a 3 day track. His ears were up, he was happy to do the job; but there was no extra spark in the tank. <b>He was honest, obviously loves it, just needs more fitness work. </b>The courses were fair for an early season test, with most people getting going again for the fall. There were enough questions that I got a feel for where he is, and I think I'm gonna keep him in the 1* ranks for a bit until I can school him more and determine when his move to Intermediate will take place. And hopefully Linda and Karen get home soon from that Olympic thing and I can have a lesson or two :_)~</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>The other highlight of the competition would be Trisha and Bailey absolutely being awesome in their 2nd prelim!</b> They finished 5th in an Open division!! <b>Her dressage was so smart, </b>rode the entire thing and got even point out of the test that she possibly could - well done! Show jumping she was a little lucky here and a little unlucky there, so with a 4 fault round I think we should be pleased. <b>Cross country, they really were fantastic.</b> She's been working so hard on finding her distances and making the job easy for Bailey, and it looked like they were on their second trip around the course! I don't think I've ever had a girl work harder, for me or on her own riding, and it is certainly paying off for her now. I'm very excited about the future things to come from that pair. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>On Sunday the training level crew showed up ready to strut their stuff, </b>which mostly they did. Brew got robbed, robbed I tell you! in the dressage although typical Brew didn't seem to let a thing get in the way of finishing on his dressage score and winning a ribbon. <b>He is just the most game horse I have ever ridden </b>and he is such a blast to just bomb around on here there and everywhere. <b>Felix put in his usual lovely dressage test, and it was probably the most focused he has ever been on cross country.</b> Proud of him for that. Unfortunately for Stacy her weekend came to an abrupt end when Snick injured his hock galloping in between fences out on cross country. It was ultimately quite serious, we got him over to Spurlocks where they took excellent care of him and he is now back with his mom wondering why he's missing out on the fun. We are wishing him a speedy recovery and keeping Stacy very focused on her future! She is a very good rider and I'm sorry she didn't get to prove that to the world at MD HT II. Lots of time, however, to prove things to the world and it means we were just saving it for a later time and place :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">We are enjoying no competitions here for a bit as we ramp up for Millbrook and everything else happening in August. Stay tuned for Whatever may be!!!</span><br />
<br />Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-80919180003830570612012-07-12T20:21:00.000-07:002012-07-12T20:21:08.694-07:00A Summer to Remember!<span style="color: blue;">So far, I'd say that the summer of 2012 is going pretty well for Blue Clover Eventing:</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"> A great time was had by all at Fair Hill, especially if you ask big winners Sarah and Alex! Luckily they competed in separate divisions so we didn't have to have a Grace/Tanner show down ha ha ha. Nicholas and Tatanka also rocked their division, finishing a super second and were by far the smartest looking pair in their division:</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"> I was proud to call each and every one of them my students, they were well turned out, prepared, and looked like they knew what they were doing out there! Even though we had some exciting moments, I think that we were excited for all of the right reasons by the time everyone came home safe and smiling through those cross country finish flags. I can't wait for their next outings!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">We've also been busy doing circles and more circles. Last weekend I had the opportunity to compete another lovely Beall Spring Farm horse, Beall Spring Baccarat, for owner Steph Sullivan. He's been very rewarding to train and compete and made his Second Level debut with rock star scores at the PVDA show last weekend at the PG Equestrian Center. This boy can really move!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">We have new horses, new students, people and ponies going here there and everywhere. I'm so lucky to have Trisha and Stacy working for me right now, I don't know what I'd do without them and I hope the feeling is mutual lol. I'm looking forward to competing Fernhill Whatever this coming weekend at MD HT II at Loch Moy. We have a bunch of first time dressage competitors going to a competition later in the month and I can't wait for great scores! Then it is off to Millbrook before we know it. Can't wait!</span>Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-28732490357313536132012-07-09T19:05:00.001-07:002012-07-09T19:05:25.668-07:00Welcome Whatever!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Congratulations to Greyside LLC on the exciting purchase of Fernhill Whatever!</b> I am beyond thrilled to have such an amazing horse to compete. <b>Thanks to Carolyn Jolley,</b> in nothing less than whirlwind style, I was on a plane and back again with arrangements made to bring a new pony to Blue Clover Eventing! Not just any pony; but a gorgeous grey 16.2h Irish Sport Horse...and I assure you he knows it!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Carol and Fraser at Fernhill Sport Horse Centre both did an amazing job of finding this guy and bringing him up to win at the the 1* level.</b> His breeding, movement and jumping ability all scream upper level event horse and that's exactly what we had in mind with his purchase. He's been here two weeks literally to the day, and I've set a schedule that would get us to the 2* at Fair Hill, <b>I'm anticipating that he's as much of an over-achiever as I am :)</b> I feel badly that the poor guy leaves an unusually cold and wet Ireland and arrives in the North East in the midst of a record breaking heat wave. Trisha did one of her 'usual' amazing clip jobs and that combined with the fact that he is just an amazing athlete has allowed him to make the adjustment fairly easily to life in the States. He seems to approve of our chow at least! and seems to respond to us even though we don't have nearly as cool of an accent as did his former humans. He was highly suspicious of treats although we seem to have gotten over that after the first week, group effort ha ha ha. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">I look forward to a little cross country school tomorrow at Morven Park, and if that goes well off to Loch Moy we go this weekend to run the prelim at MD HT II. Can't wait! </span><br />
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<br />Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-4491465606776298702012-06-24T18:48:00.001-07:002012-06-24T18:48:42.917-07:00Ride for Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span><span style="background-color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>We had a great day today as the Ride for Life took over the Show Place Arena this weekend</b>. The atmosphere at this dressage competition is really like none other, and it is fun to feel as though you are a part of something so much bigger. My mother has been a survivor of breast cancer for 10 plus years, and I am eager to participate in anything that raises funds and awareness for this awful disease. <b>The show was so well run and so well attended, I've already marked it on the 2013 calendar!</b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span><span style="background-color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>This weekend I had the opportunity to ride some of the incredible horses bred and owned by Thora Pollak of </b><a href="http://www.beallspringfarm.com/" target="_blank"><b>Beall Spring Farm.</b> </a></span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="background-color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">I
have had the pleasure over the years of riding for Beall Spring, and
right now we have in training my most favorite of them all! I walked by
the stall one day and there he was standing there in all of his glory,
begging for me to inquire who he was and when did I get to start working
with him!! <b>Today was all about Baker, as the above picture represents.</b> And wouldn't you know, he rose to the occasion! I honestly expected nothing less, like all of his Beall Spring relatives he has a super disposition and a super brain that was instantly recognizable to passersby all over the show grounds. <b>Working with such a talented youngster is beyond rewarding!</b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span><span style="background-color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>I suppose that his barn-mates would like to point out that he was NOT the only star of the day </b>coughDantecough. In fact, the little man would have been nothing without his entourage including Thora on Dante, and his "security detail" of Steve, Trisha and Stacy<b>. I would like to take a moment to congratulate owner Stephie Ormston on the fabulous performance of Beall Street Baccarat. </b>This boy can really move! and that he did to post some fabulous scores this weekend. He was 2nd out of 17 in F2 and scored a 72%, and then <b>he put in an absolutely lovely test in the covered arena and won the F3 this afternoon convincingly on a 74%. </b></span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="background-color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">We are really excited to see what he can do in the future! </span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="background-color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Special thanks to Trisha and Stacy who started preparing him for me on Friday, and to Stephie who had him looking the part after having to completely rebraid him right before his class courtesy of some stealth rubbing - nothing like a little excitement on a 100 degree day lol. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span><span style="background-color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">In fact, it is Thora and her entire crew that make competitions like this so much fun. They are so positive, which is of course easy when dealing with such fabulous horses. Chessie and Dante would agree! They had to work hard in the heat every day and they are certainly better horses because of it ha ha ha. Really looking forward to the next one, and I know the horses feel the same!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span><span style="background-color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-68180016381350262722012-06-04T17:57:00.001-07:002012-06-04T17:58:39.908-07:00Fond Farewells and Heartfelt Hellos<br />
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Hellos are always easier than good
byes. So we will say our fond farewells first. I know that by now it
is not news that we lost not just a great horseman, but a great human
being with the passing of Jim Lewis. It just doesn't seem right to
ride around the arena without our head trainer Mr. Zang lol. We had
too much fun and I find myself still looking over at the empty chairs
as I ride around the arena. I miss the chats we would have as I
bopped around on every type of horse, from 2 year old race horses to
Grand Prix horses. Working for Jim never got old we would talk about
everything imaginable. Even a grumpy Jim was entertaining, although I
assure you it did not happen often. We joked nonstop about when I was
going to become a straight dressage rider, and I was counting on
having him in my corner when that day happened far in the future
(after breaking all of the eventing records, of course). I know he
will be watching, just not like how I pictured.
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Nor did I picture an empty stall where
Playtime used to reside. He was recently sold across the pond. This
has been particularly difficult given as though I felt he had an
excellent chance at winning the CCI2* at Jersey and was moving on to
the blue squares after that. I know that we gave each other
opportunities, he improved faster than a horse possibly should be
able to in the year we had together. By our last cross country school
he made the advanced at Gibbs look like a novice round and we were
communicating on brain waves. He gave me some incredible tests and fantastic jumping rounds and I was looking forward to making a High Performance list with him. I am thankful I think that I won't have
to see his unbelievable begging look from behind the stall door or
out the window of the trailer, it was irresistible and he knew it :)</div>
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But, it is human nature to go on, and I
am surrounded by incredible people that are positive and feel the
same way. And so, we do. We are fortunate for everything we do have,
and opportunities that unfold before us daily. Not only do I have a
bunch of fun new horses and clients that have an exciting season
ahead of them, I would like to welcome new working student Stacy
Iacono. Please make her feel welcome, we didn't give her any time to
adjust, even on her interview weekend she was working her tail off
and hasn't stopped since! We hope you will see her competing at the
Preliminary level in the very near future with Snick. Or perhaps, I
should say winning, he is a super cute horse and they have both been
an absolute pleasure to work with. She and Trisha go way back, and I
know that Trisha has been happy to have her old partner in crime
working by her side. And I'm happy to do anything that keeps Trisha
happy! I don't know what I would do without any of you lately,
Richard, Gunsmoke, the lovely ladies of Kaleidescape, I am just so
utterly grateful for each and everyone of you and now is the time
more than ever to say thank you!</div>Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-2498029921870077762012-04-23T06:41:00.003-07:002012-04-23T06:41:39.016-07:00A Close Finish at Fair Hill!<a href="http://youtu.be/dr1dcaChcs8">Playtime at Fort Fair Hill</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Eventing doesn't get much better or much closer than this weekend at Fair Hill International's CIC**. Playtime finished 2nd by less than a point!</b> On the drive home I thought of all the places I could have, over 3 days of competition, scraped over one more point. Jeeze! Danny I think said it best, "It was just one more smooch baby" and yes puckering up next time you better believe! Smarty and I were entered as our last run before Jersey Fresh, and I am thrilled with how the weekend turned out for all of us. Well, not so thrilled unpacking and attempting to dry out the trailer and equipment; but that is another story.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Smarty was getting a little cocky about his dressaging and so I tried a new warm up strategy, quite pleased with how it worked and we will see if I can recreate at Jersey! I was a little worried with the scheduling, they had us dressage over on the International side and I feared that I may not survive hacking back thru cross country after my dressage test! So after unapcking and setting up the tent stabling Thursday afternoon, early Friday morning we repacked the trailer, loaded a confused Smarty and off to Gallaher Road we went. <b>I was really pleased with my test, he stayed focused and with me throughout the entire thing. I was a little conservative I know; but happy that I was still winning with more in the tank! Just wishing now I had asked a little more.....</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Cross country day was pleasantly not raining, super hard ground although the horses didn't seem to back off as much as I thought they were going to. <b>The course was I think a fair 2*,</b> lots of new improvements around the course, new fences, new designs at the water and I don't think Smarty had negotiated a mound like that into water so that was a good test. He answered them all with out even blinking yay! He is getting to be such an efficient jumper on cross country compared to a year ago when his pretty boy jumper toes were soaring over all the fences, yes on style points but bad on the clock. Now we brush thru brush and get a toe tap here and there and it is actually a good feeling knowing that we aren't wasting precious seconds (which this weekend were really precious!).<b> It is such a great feeling to look back to the animal you had a year ago, and really feel that all of the blood sweat and tears are really making a difference! I dare say he's ready for blue flags across country!</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">He came off of the course great, was the best he has ever cooled out and Trisha survived the walk back down the horse path (you have to ask her about pulling out her New England attitude on some ambitious mountain bikers!) and back to stabling where ice and cookies were waiting for him! Sunday morning he was feeling great, or perhaps it was the fact that it was freezing and windy, because <b>he floated up and down the jog strip, such a great feeling hearing "Accepted" before you even walk! He wanted everyone to notice how beautifully Trisha had turned him out! </b>Smarts can really jump and he did a fantastic job negotiating the jumping track even in pouring down rain and temperatures over 40 degrees colder than when we left Aiken two weeks ago! <b>I was taking every inside turn, did the 7 to the sailboat combination, and still had a time fault. At least I put a little pressure on Doug, who went in and did the same clean round with the same time fault! Incredible! </b>The skinny at 6 was absolutely rolling in the cups; but alas, it was not my day and somehow it rolled itself back into the cup. <b>Hope we were saving our good luck for Jersey!</b></span><br />
<br />Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-74223619209602231612012-04-03T19:19:00.004-07:002012-04-03T19:32:30.261-07:00Charleston!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRs18pHpROgFFYEsjXrlhlTcMV0plqcFmneGB_qrQs5LGLZzszfIXrwB5_5e6T1zAZqpXd0hI8vgVzQYZGg-fwv2XmKGHntp3KQEk6JcxCJe3oAh9m606bwV5oEV-isZiD5l7geniuQI/s1600/Charleston3"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRs18pHpROgFFYEsjXrlhlTcMV0plqcFmneGB_qrQs5LGLZzszfIXrwB5_5e6T1zAZqpXd0hI8vgVzQYZGg-fwv2XmKGHntp3KQEk6JcxCJe3oAh9m606bwV5oEV-isZiD5l7geniuQI/s400/Charleston3" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727364878342176802" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qqGRs220le-hvzQzGM0F9YxFttDz4S10Yfy2jF1ZORGsDxkEVcjrKn7D03wx8iM6tCA4rB5ugHlL1E6i16Om6P8W32ziHhdVVa9tadhBIkOP-gDXjbOTw5ZWtu0jeb5Fv8Svn8RS0oo/s1600/Charleston2"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qqGRs220le-hvzQzGM0F9YxFttDz4S10Yfy2jF1ZORGsDxkEVcjrKn7D03wx8iM6tCA4rB5ugHlL1E6i16Om6P8W32ziHhdVVa9tadhBIkOP-gDXjbOTw5ZWtu0jeb5Fv8Svn8RS0oo/s400/Charleston2" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727364719443589090" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Yes, you are reading the correct blog....this is Blue Clover Eventing and what you are looking at has absolutely nothing to do with our horses! Sadly, time is winding down here in Aiken, in fact at this time tomorrow I will be typing from Norwood, NC as we roll into town for The Fork. Over the weekend we sent home 5 horses and Kristen (sorry Kristen!) and that just leaves 4 horses, Trisha, and 1 lercher to keep me company! We have had a great last few days doing all things we love to do, cross country school at Gibbes, combined test at Sporting Days, ride in our Field of Dreams. We have also had time to fit in all of our last minute favorite things, TakoSushi and Hotel Aiken on a Wednesday nite; Playoffs and the karaoke professionals on Sunday, Palm Beach Tan he he he, we had a pitcher at Maria's just for old times sake...jeeze it is like we are really leaving!<br /><br />But, on the final day here, I did something fun and completely random. Richard who usually times his visits around shows and all big things on the calendar mistakenly booked a ticket for Charleston instead of Columbia. Soooooooo, (conveniently?) after I rode everything this morning (including galloping Smarty and cross country schooling Felix!) I abandoned Trisha with the rest of the packing so that I could make the long drive to Charleston. To justify spending such time in the truck, Richard and I decided to take a fun spin around town. Well, not so fun in the dually! But a fun field trip nonetheless. One afternoon off after 2 months of non-stop Aiken, well I suppose it was time! And we had a great time! Charleston is a super cute town and I would love to spend more than 2 hours there. I look forward to going back in the future for some beaching, shopping, and of course I'm going to love going out in the city that invented Firefly!!<br /><br />Now, back to reality, time to get serious. Wheels up early in the morning for The Fork. So sad, I know I speak for all of us when I say how much we are going to miss Hatchaway Bridge Farms and our Aiken family there. Until next year!<br /></span>Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-9688409524087902472012-03-25T14:21:00.003-07:002012-03-25T15:08:36.197-07:00Southern Pines II<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtN_LcqeQO9Zzq91RUJN8Kc41PJm-Ajtp8TuJ7SjA1m_MfKE1Qv-5ViOpssJba3SckQfB5FSzmm-hopc_h8MYyT-zwJgSTCfU3SO2LAIchEbCiuGo9NWHk1s4kYpZRBCa-Ss35aLQ3rkY/s1600/TrishaDitch"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtN_LcqeQO9Zzq91RUJN8Kc41PJm-Ajtp8TuJ7SjA1m_MfKE1Qv-5ViOpssJba3SckQfB5FSzmm-hopc_h8MYyT-zwJgSTCfU3SO2LAIchEbCiuGo9NWHk1s4kYpZRBCa-Ss35aLQ3rkY/s400/TrishaDitch" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723948400279499954" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">So the funny thing is, I had a working student this summer named Marian who was pretty terrified of a ditch-and-anything and it became kind of a joke around Blue Clover Eventing. For fun, we put Trisha in front of the ditch and wall on Friday's course walk and sent it to her. Well, it was a good thing Marian wasn't at Southern Pines this weekend!!! Luckily for me, Smarty thought this fence was fun, hell <span style="font-weight: bold;">lucky for me he thought every fence was fun as we just stormed around the Intermediate cross country on Saturday at Southern Pines. I don't think I've ever praised a horse so much after crossing a finish line!!</span><br /><br />It started like a normal competition, Bailey and Trisha in the Training and Smarty in the Intermediate. We got there in time on Thursday for a nice dressage session, Smarty thought he saw dead people there for a minute although a few circles on a longe line (God Bless Cat and Megan!) and we were golden. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bailey was primed and ready for an early Friday dressage, and did he make quite an impression on the judge! Marks of '9' and '8' on the first two movements of his dressage test, way to go! </span>The training was a very competitive division, and we were hoping the time would be hard to make over a very fun cross country course. Unfortunately, not exactly the case, although I don't think he had a single bad fence. A momentary trip in the water just to make for some dramatic photos...we will take it! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Smarty had a pretty super dressage, tough crowd as we were in 6th on a 26 jeeze.</span> Kudos to dressage judge Lisa Cox, she judged Intermediate from 8 until after 530 and she stayed so positive! A lot of fun to get to ride in front of her and I wish I could say that about more judges! I do want to take the moment however to compliment all of the crew at Southern Pines, it is like they have professional volunteers there that just make all the difference in the atmosphere. I look forward to bringing the barn back again next year!<br /><br />I say that hoping that a few changes get made to the cross country before next year lol. In all seriousness, however, I feel strongly that Southern Pines II always has a very big and difficult track for the Adv and Int and here it was again this year. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I don't think horses were reading the bank correctly so early on, I am so so fortunate to be on the bravest and scopiest horse and he didn't bat an eye, I gave him a strong ride and he soared right over it and got short even to the roll top.</span> I got more wiggles to the bank down at 7 than I thought I would. Smarty was just absolutely full of running and he thought the initial house to the bank down apparently was the only question there, cheeky little monkey, and he saw C as kind of an after thought. He was quite honest when I closed legs and reins and jumped thru the flags we did! <span style="font-weight: bold;">I cruised thru the Pond Water where so many were not so fortunate; I think my horse's experience at Intermediate made quite a difference there</span> as I pretty much balanced him halfway down the hill and just kept coming down to it and he was happy to oblige. My excitement came actually dodging trees trying to find my line to the skinny at 12 up on top of the hill afterwards! His stride is so big, you have to be careful what you wish for when you ride him strong like I did to the water, takes a few strides to recover ha! Then it was full on galloping to the double corners, and my fancy little show jumper it starting to be a scrappy cross country pony. He took out the flag on B much to my surprise and excitement, actually, as a year ago that would have been a run out! I liked the 4 and thought I needed to keep coming thru the turn, well I accomplished that and got him there a little tight sorry bud; but that's why the flags pop on and off right?!<span style="font-weight: bold;"> On to the big water where the goal was to find my line to the very tight angled line of houses, Smarty was all about it and just cracked through it like it was a training exercise. Whew.</span> One last tricky combination to go and I have had some ugly rides there before, the palisade things out in the middle of the track. I was cocky, I was close to making the time, and I went the direct route in 3. And I got it! Smarts came right back, jumped, turned, and pretty much locked on and jumped all at the same time. Goooood poooooony :)<br /><br />Not too much time to celebrate however as we had to run back over for Trisha's show jumping. </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I don't think poor Trisha had any nerves left after getting me thru the cross country </span>ha ha ha</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> every 3 seconds someone was falling off, retiring, or her phone was ringing full of more bad news about how the course was riding. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Maybe that was the secret to her show jumping round, she rode great, executed her plan,</span> and Bailey got through the combinations with room to spare yippee! I must admit she did a better job than I at executing show jumping plans this weekend.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> I had costly time penalties in the OI-A to drop to 4th</span> :( Smarty was jumping quite well, in fact I don't recall even a rub during his round, however we had a major discussion over a lead change after the oxer at 7. In the midst of all of this, I kind of slowly see us going to the outside of the first fence to get to the planks at 8, and realize that is NOT where I needed to be oh no! Do I rip his face off for the inside turn and probably get a rail because I've thrown everything out of whack? Didn't seem like a good idea, so I casually boogied around the long way, continued to leave up all the rails (and he jumped like dynamite through the triple!) and knew as I crossed the finish line after a beautifully clean jumping round that I really screwed up. There will be lead change boot camp this week I guarantee you so we can finish in the Top Three at The Fork in two weeks :)<br /></span>Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-45891597248719441172012-03-19T16:07:00.002-07:002012-03-19T19:26:20.275-07:00Brew's Been Busy!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41y_56iZzdPWfs8HtdG5GA-yE2secyiyDlQwPjiMleCv5DAt_VfTTo0WlzGuP9uycHtycoFrqRaJt_Z8a_Xunhj_A282jaJhmAvF9AFKPHz6PMkzyUry37rjilxDQMvefAKaw-O3I6_Q/s1600/TrailerPineTop"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41y_56iZzdPWfs8HtdG5GA-yE2secyiyDlQwPjiMleCv5DAt_VfTTo0WlzGuP9uycHtycoFrqRaJt_Z8a_Xunhj_A282jaJhmAvF9AFKPHz6PMkzyUry37rjilxDQMvefAKaw-O3I6_Q/s400/TrailerPineTop" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721782176323573810" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Brew is so excited to tell you all about his first two weeks with us at Blue Clover Eventing! I am so happy to have this little guy in my program, and he has had an action packed two weeks leading up to his first competition at Pine Top this weekend. In fact, <span style="font-weight: bold;">everyone has been leaping into action the past two weeks. We are happy to have Kristen here for the month helping out,</span> I'm sure she was lonely at home without us and man oh man were we happy to see her upon her arrival!<span style="font-weight: bold;"> She and Delilah didn't waste any time, either, they were the big winners on Wednesday at the Derby at Sporting Days!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brew and Bailey got to be the big horses this weekend heading to Pine Top, and they came home like big horses with a 5th and 4th respectively.</span> Great ribbons and great results and it doesn't just happen. Congrats to Brew and Trisha and Bailey for busting their tails every day! And speaking of tails, Trisha has Brew's fancy little white tail glittering, I think it scored us an extra 2 points on our dressage lol. Everyone that has met Brew for even a second recognizes how cute and special he is, and he had quite a few moments this weekend that confirmed these feelings. He is the most laid back little fellow on and off the trailer, makes it that much more fun when the ones you like are actually easy to work around. I am sure that will change once he gets to be an Intermediate horse, his list of demands will multiply exponentially. So for the time being, we will enjoy it! Bailey is another one with very few demands right now, and we really appreciate that. We also really appreciate his effort in show jumping to leave up the rails, especially in the combinations! <span style="font-weight: bold;">It was by far the best round I have seen Trisha and Bailey jump together. </span>Looking forward to watching them cruise around the track at Southern Pines. It will be the most atmosphere that they have had to compete in thus far, and I'm anticipating a great dressage score - and finishing on it!<br /><br />These two weren't the only stars of the week however. As I mentioned previously, Delilah and Kristen won the Derby at Sporting Days. We also had<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Antolin </span>showing there in the straight dressage, he<span style="font-weight: bold;"> broke into the 70s at Training Level</span> and got some really flattering remarks from the judge. The last time I took him out, he got '9s' on gaits, so he really has something to be proud of! <span style="font-weight: bold;">This week he makes the move up to First Level.</span> I would really love to find him a great dressage home down here in Aiken. Getting nervous, can't believe how much time has gone by already.....we leave the first of April and that will be here before we know it. So sad! We have such an unbelievable set up at Hatchaway Bridge Farms, and Aiken is such a special place for me. The weather couldn't be nicer, everything is bright green and in full bloom. I keep trying to take pictures with my phone and it doesn't do the landscape justice. I know, adios BlackBerry and time for the iPhone, although I'm just not there yet.<br /><br />Smarty would like to remind everyone that he is still the big horse in the barn. He's going to do some dressage-ing at Sporting Days as well on Wednesday to tune up for Southern Pines this weekend.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Looking forward to the kick off of the PRO Tour for 2012 at Southern Pines II, always one of my favorite events of the year.</span> Tomorrow I'm taking all of my guys to Gibbs, Smarty will be so happy I know. He hasn't been there yet this year and there are just so many fun things to do. The possibilities are endless at Gibbs and it will be good to wear him out! He needs to set a good example for the youngsters (Brew and Felix) and I hope he takes that job seriously. They are impressionable at their young age ha. I sent in the entry for the 2* at The Fork, so I do hope Smarty is on his 'A' game because I'm certainly showing up to win! I'm certain I'm sitting on the best mover and jumper in the field and I think he's getting strong enough and rideable enough now that we can make it all look easy. Confident; but touching wood right now lol. I guess we will have to wait and see, check live scoring and as always read Eventing Nation and I will be back with the report soon!<br /></span>Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3483315037051768816.post-5766014451323070312012-02-26T19:44:00.003-08:002012-02-26T20:17:06.790-08:00Playtime at Pine Top<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLZGOPQlnTh1VZRV3DiKMhXP5bisL-zklrfMfcvG_QcfJJPmcnAb0IHShPP2YbO3BCtLh-dZLLUg_zLXgbx1sc69DoAwCvgKFG8lNPXUo09pAdQU3Q_y1PjkeRQaT6ozqiJ6cdzqEkko/s1600/PineTopSkinny"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLZGOPQlnTh1VZRV3DiKMhXP5bisL-zklrfMfcvG_QcfJJPmcnAb0IHShPP2YbO3BCtLh-dZLLUg_zLXgbx1sc69DoAwCvgKFG8lNPXUo09pAdQU3Q_y1PjkeRQaT6ozqiJ6cdzqEkko/s400/PineTopSkinny" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713656573159269538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What a difference a year makes! </span>At this time last year I can't describe to you the time and effort it would've taken me to get Smarty to jump straight over this little fella pictured above. And now, fast forward to Pine Top this past weekend. Smarty had a super jump up the bounce bank (and let me tell you it was even more of an effort than I was anticipating to get up there!) landed waiting for instructions, and absolutely straight on galloped to the skinny and split the uprights we did!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">All sorts of stellar moments just like this helped us end a great week in Aiken.</span> We've had a little excitement...some barn drama could have landed us on "Real Working Students of Aiken, SC" this past week. Really looking forward to the 1st when back-ups from home arrive!! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Trisha had a great week,</span> somehow in between making all of my horses, the barn, oh yeah and me look fantastic, she and her very own Final Statement won the Training Derby at Paradise on Wednesday! She and "Bailey" looked great out there, should be all primed for victory next weekend when they compete at Sporting Days. I am proud to have both of them as part of the program, well <span style="font-weight: bold;">Trisha is an integral part as I can't imagine being here without her! </span>We snuck out this morning to the Track Kitchen to celebrate surviving last week. It can't be all work and no play ;)<br /><br />But, as I mentioned at the start of this blog, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the real highlight of the week was getting to ride Playtime at the Advanced Pine Top this weekend.</span> As most of you know, sadly he is for sale, and I consider every ride on him to be a bonus at this point. We worked incredibly hard all winter with Linda on his dressage and <span style="font-weight: bold;">I was sorry that the conditions this weekend didn't allow us to showcase our new and improved flatwork! </span>The thunderstorms were severe and scattered, and so after hours of delay we finally got word to tack up and get into the ring before the next round started. I thought Smarty handled this pretty well; but at the end of the day a huge squall interrupted our test and although he kept it together, a few mistakes here and there plagued our score. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I rode in front of Charlie Musco, a judge whom I think very highly of and in fact I wish more venues would use him!</span> I hope next time I see him the weather is a little kinder on us all, it is no fun to ride or judge or volunteer in weather like that - thanks to everyone for coming out and supporting our sport.<br /><br />Saturday was a brand new day, with a new time schedule that the organizers somehow got to work out perfectly! <span style="font-weight: bold;">I was thankful to get to show jump before cross country,</span> actually, so I guess all the wet and disgusting tack and equipment was totally worth it?! Show jumping was actually quite tricky, lots of roll backs, use of terrain, a spooky skinny oxer, and my ultimate nemesis, a Swedish oxer to end the course on a bending line. I fell victim to the course designer's evil plan, Smarty was a little flat and stiff by the end of the course and I wasn't able to keep him straight enough...onto the high side we drifted and down went the very last rail on an otherwise well jumped course. He was even easily inside the time, in hindsight I would have insisted on adding up, getting him bending and supple again. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Smarty does NOT like to touch rails,</span> he apologized and swore it wouldn't happen again :) I promised him the same thing!<br /><br />The brisk temperatures and wind helped ensure that I had plenty left in the tank that afternoon for cross country.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> I took advantage of all of the cross country fences in warm up</span> (they even had a ditch flagged - amazing!) and angled a skinny or two just to make sure. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I was a little worried about the out of the 2nd water. </span>It was basically the same angled brush question that caught Smarty off guard at Fair Hill, and I didn't want to end up making the same mistake twice. Smarty has such a giant step, I found myself debating the numbers on a few of the other options. But by the time I left the box I had quite the plan in my head. And luckily, I was able to execute said plan out there! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Smarty was so adjustable, the right amount of listening but still game to run and jump. </span>He is such a powerful jumper, he makes my job easy most of the time. I took it easy galloping around; but you can just feel him learning each time he heads out on course. Very, very cool. The hardest and saddest thing is that I only get to ride him around the course once! I need 10 Smarty's, please, because it is really hard to think that I have to wait 3 weeks until Southern Pines to get to go run around another 6 minutes worth of Intermediate cross country! If only I had a barn full....and I know I'm the only person out there saying that, right?!<br /></span>Blue Clover Eventinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05489173925590748558noreply@blogger.com0